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Araucaria heterophylla

Family Name:	Araucariaceae
Synonyms:	Araucaria excelsa var. glauca Carrière, Araucaria excelsa var. speciosissima Carrière, Abies columbaria (Dum.Cours.) Dum.Cours., Eutacta excelsa var. aurea-variegata Carrière, Eutacta excelsa var. glauca (Carrière) Carrière, Eutacta excelsa var. monstrosa Carrière, Eutacta excelsa var. variegata-alba Carrière, Eutassa heterophylla Salisb, Pinus columbaria Dum.Cours.
Common Name:	Norfolk Island Pine, House Pine, Australian Pine, Arukaria, Star Pine

Full Sun

Little Water

Moderate Water

Coastal Plant

Indoor Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Drought Tolerant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Gymnosperms (Non-Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Conical
Maximum Height	50 m to 70 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	20 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Norfolk Island (east of Australia)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Coniferous tree (not true pine despite common name), 50-70m in height. Crown narrowly conical, branchlets in symmetrical whorls of 4-7. Form relatively upright, sometimes with slight lean. Leaves bright green; Young leaves smaller, wedge-shaped; Mature leaves larger, incurved, scale-like, spiral densely around twigs; hence species epithet 'heterophylla' (different leaves). Whole twigs (rather than individual leaves) dropped during foliage shed. Non-flowering plant - tree produces cones instead, male and female cones on separate trees. Male cones cylindrical, yellow-brown or reddish, pollen-producing; Female cones broad, with triangular scales and bract. Fruits are dehiscent woody cones, seldom produced in cultivation, contain winged, nut-like edible seeds. Distinctive architectural crown makes plant suitable for specimen or mass planting in groves. Striking when located beside tall buildings. If grown in lawns, surface roots may make mowing difficult. Younger plants can be grown in containers and used as Christmas tree substitute in tropics. Mature trees are drought-tolerant. Branches droop if tree is grown in shade. Propagate by cuttings of erect, terminal shoot tips, or seeds (if commercially available).
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds Others: Timber used for wood-turning and crafts-making in Hawaii.

Others - Plant Morphology

Coniferous tree (not true pine despite common name), 50-70m in height. Crown narrowly conical, branchlets in symmetrical whorls of 4-7. Form relatively upright, sometimes with slight lean. Leaves bright green; Young leaves smaller, wedge-shaped; Mature leaves larger, incurved, scale-like, spiral densely around twigs; hence species epithet 'heterophylla' (different leaves). Whole twigs (rather than individual leaves) dropped during foliage shed. Non-flowering plant - tree produces cones instead, male and female cones on separate trees. Male cones cylindrical, yellow-brown or reddish, pollen-producing; Female cones broad, with triangular scales and bract. Fruits are dehiscent woody cones, seldom produced in cultivation, contain winged, nut-like edible seeds. Distinctive architectural crown makes plant suitable for specimen or mass planting in groves. Striking when located beside tall buildings. If grown in lawns, surface roots may make mowing difficult. Younger plants can be grown in containers and used as Christmas tree substitute in tropics. Mature trees are drought-tolerant. Branches droop if tree is grown in shade. Propagate by cuttings of erect, terminal shoot tips, or seeds (if commercially available).

Ethnobotanical Uses

Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds
Others: Timber used for wood-turning and crafts-making in Hawaii.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	General, Coastal, Focal Plant, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting
Thematic Landscaping	Formal Garden

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Abiotic (Wind)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence), Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Little Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Easy to Grow, Drought Tolerant
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting
Propagation Method Remarks	Take stem cuttings of erect terminal shoot tips. Fruit cones and seeds seldom produced in cultivation. Seeds may be available commericially.

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Scaly, Thick

Foliar Modification	Spine (axillary)
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Linear)
Foliar Venation	Parallel
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Typical Foliar Area	Nanophyll ( 0.25cm2 - 2.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Grey brown
Mature Bark Texture	Peeling / Flaking / Papery, Scaly

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality

Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1429
Species ID	2722
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 21 December 2021.