Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain before Araucaria bidwillii but I am unsure of the date.  ‘There is no fear of the Pines (Araucaria excelsa) being exhausted upon Norfolk Island.  The island is very nearly covered with them; their outline having, at a distance, the appearance of Cathedral ruins, &c., as the light or shade may be; and the convicts do no more work than they are obliged.  I forget whether I mentioned to you that the island was formerly covered with orange-trees.  The Commandant, in 1827, Colonel Morrison, believing that the fruit furnished means of sustenance to the runaway convicts, caused them to be destroyed, with a very few exceptions, which trees have since gone off; and although every means have been taken to re-establish them, they will not succeed.  In 1844 there was but one tree upon the island, and that was in an unhealthy state.’  [BM p.29/1847, Notice of a Botanical Mission to the West Indies and New Granada; by William Purdie].  A lithograph in Die Coniferen shows a mature tree, presumably on Norfolk Island.  [Die Coniferen t.XLII/1840-41].  There are also illustrations of leaves, cones and seeds in this publication.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [C.10/1843].  On 8th August 1844 Macarthur wrote to the Sydney Botanic Garden with a request ‘to be supplied with the following plants from the Botanic Garden for the purpose of being forwarded to England in exchange for plants transmitted from thence: 24 small Norfolk Island Pines, 6 Moreton Bay [A. cunninghamii] ditto.’ 

Notes