This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the small aluminium discs, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Family: Araucariaceae
Araucaria cunninghamii
is the tallest tree in the Palm House, reaching up into the dome. The species
is found in the dry rainforests of New South Wales, Queensland and New Guinea.
It is related to the Monkey Puzzle tree (
Araucaria araucana), a conifer
from South America and to the
Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria
heterophylla) which is also grown in the Palm House. It is not hardy
enough to grow out of doors in Ireland (said to be frost hardy only to -1
oC).
Hoop pine is a valuable timber used for construction and furniture and as
plywood; it is grown in commercial forests in Queensland. The wood is pale
in colour with a straight grain.
Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens Palm House in 2014. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic
