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Araucaria columnaris (Cooks) v. A. heterophylla (Norfolk Island)

17 years ago

Can someone please help me with this? I just got a 4 - 5 ft. tree, and would like some help figuring out whether it is a Norfolk or a Cooks "pine". Are there any dependable ways to differentiate them, at this size?

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Comments (5)

fhollingshead
17 years ago
The taxonomists might have a method but it's doubtful. These guys are pretty close when young. Ar columnaris begins dropping branches later in it's life to assume it's columnar habit but only when a fairly large tree. I think you're out of luck.

Cheers,

Frank
davevallejo
17 years ago
I am informed that recent commentaries in the US are suggesting that virtually all trees sold commercially as A. heterophylla (norfolk Island Pine) in the USA since the 1940's are, in actuality A columnaris. Can't say I know this for a fact, but am repeating what a couple of people I respect have been telling me.

I think Americans who served in New Caledonia during the war must have brought A. columnaris (which is exceedingly common there) seed back to the USA with them, which was planted and propagated to the exclusion of A. heterophylla for some reason. I have been looking around with a critical eye, and I have noticed an interesting break: Trees older than about 60 years old have the characteristic habit and broad skirt of A. heterophylla. Younder trees (as well as those available in supermarkets and nurseries, labebled as norfolk Island Pines), have the narrow habit of A. columnaris.

Truth be told, neither of them has the extraordinary, severe columnar presence of the NC trees. Perhaps we are talking about a hybrid or cultivar of A. columnaris that was boradly popularised in US cultivation.

Only a genetic analysis will conirm this. In the meantime, acording to this analysis, I'd say psykldoc's plant is A. columnaris, and true A. heterophylla are exceedingly rare in the USA.
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We are well aware of this issue here in Florida, where the same species are found. I only know of a couple of true heterophylla here, but many, many columnaris where they are hardy (not here in North Florida). The problem arises because the major seed source for almost all of the plants grown as NIP for the tropical foliage/houseplant industry is in Hawaii, where they sell the seed as NIP seed although it is really A. columnaris. Finding seed of true A. heterophylla is difficult, but not impossible if you insist on the real thing. I have gotten seeds from Australia that came from NI. The 2 can be easily identified when young as the cotyledons of A. heterophylla are more than 2x the size of A. columnaris. Also, the branch angle is very obviously different, being nearly 90 degrees for A. heterophylla. I think the angle of the needles coming off the main stem/leader is different between the 2 also. Glad to hear someone is paying attention to this. Nurseries and authors of tree books need to do the same.
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Embothrium
17 years ago
You see more A. columnaris in Hawaii but in southern California A. heterophylla is prevalent.
arauquoia
17 years ago
RE: "Truth be told, neither of them has the extraordinary, severe columnar presence of the NC trees. Perhaps we are talking about a hybrid or cultivar of A. columnaris that was boradly popularised in US cultivation."

This has been my observation as well in Florida. The landscape plantings just are not nearly as narrow as the A. columnaris one sees in NC.

RE: "You see more A. columnaris in Hawaii but in southern California A. heterophylla is prevalent."

Are the A. columnaris in Hawaii columnar as in NC?
Embothrium
17 years ago
If I've seen habitat photos showing a more extreme shape I haven't noticed and remembered with clarity. I may have. Those in Hawaii do usually have parallel sides, the branches of similar length except near the apex of the tree, in the fashion of true firs growing in snow country.

For years, since I was young I wondered why most of the "Norfolk Island pines" there (Hawaii) had flattish needles and comparatively short, uniform-length branches, with trunks usually leaning to one side. Eventually I found out. Star pine is a good, descriptive common name for A. heterophylla .

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