Classification and species list Araucaria

araucaria columnaris sapling distinctive axial bud.



araucaria heterophylla leaves



petrified cone of araucaria mirabilis patagonia, argentina dating jurassic period (approx. 157 mya)

there 4 extant sections , 2 extinct sections in genus, treated separate genera. genetic studies indicate extant members of genus can subdivided 2 large clades – first consisting of section araucaria, bunya, , intermedia; , second of monophyletic section eutacta. sections eutacta , bunya both oldest taxa of genus, eutacta possibly older.

taxa marked † extinct.




section araucaria. leaves broad; cones more 12 cm (4.7 in) diameter; seed germination hypogeal. syn. sect. columbea; includes intermedia , bunya

araucaria angustifolia – paraná pine (obsolete: brazilian pine , candelabra tree ); southern , southeastern brazil, northeastern argentina.
araucaria araucana – monkey-puzzle or pehuén (obsolete: chile pine ); central chile & western argentina.
†araucaria nipponensis – japan


section bunya. contains 1 living species. produces recalcitrant seeds hypogeal (cryptocotylar) germination, though extinct species may have exhibited epigeal germination.

araucaria bidwillii – bunya-bunya ; eastern australia
†araucaria brownii - england
†araucaria mirabilis – patagonia
†araucaria sphaerocarpa - england


section intermedia. contains 1 living species. produces recalcitrant seeds

araucaria hunsteinii – klinki ; new guinea
†araucaria haastii - new zealand


section eutacta. leaves narrow, awl-like; cones less 12 cm (4.7 in) diameter; seed germination epigeal

araucaria bernieri – new caledonia
araucaria biramulata – new caledonia
araucaria columnaris – cook pine ; new caledonia
araucaria cunninghamii – moreton bay pine , hoop pine ; eastern australia, new guinea
araucaria goroensis – new caledonia
araucaria heterophylla – norfolk island pine ; norfolk island
araucaria humboldtensis – new caledonia
araucaria laubenfelsii – new caledonia
araucaria luxurians – new caledonia
araucaria montana – new caledonia
araucaria muelleri – new caledonia
araucaria nemorosa – new caledonia
araucaria rulei – new caledonia
araucaria schmidii – new caledonia
araucaria scopulorum – new caledonia
araucaria subulata – new caledonia
†araucaria lignitici – (paleogene) yallourn, victoria


†section yezonia. extinct. contains 1 species

†araucaria vulgaris – japan


†section perpendicula. extinct. contains 1 species

†araucaria desmondii


incertae sedis

†araucaria beipiaoensis
†araucaria fibrosa
†araucaria marensii – la meseta formation, antarctica & santa cruz formation, argentina
†araucaria nihongii – japan
†araucaria taieriensis - new zealand

araucaria bindrabunensis (previously classified under section bunya) has been transferred genus araucarites.