Araucaria bidwillii - Bunya pine

Description and Uses

Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya pine) is a tropical tree from Northern Australia . It is mainly grown for its nut crops , which have a long shelf life. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 15 - 20 years. The yield will be 10kg/bole, but in its top season there will be a yield of 70 kg/tree. Other crop types include; ornamental, timber, nut, . The {missing data} is used as delicacy . The seed/nut is used as " anti-arthritic activity, " with {missing data} (0% - 0%) as its significant phytochemical. There is bunya oil extracted by no extraction method from the tree's seed/nut yielding 1.80% - 2.20% oil. The tree's wood is called Bunya pine wood and has a density of 420 - 440 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is fast, it's energetic value is 4500 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is slow. After 90 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Araucaria bidwillii has a lifespan of 450 years.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 48 meters tall with a crown of 20 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 600 cm and a row distance of 600 cm. It is very fast growing and partial shade tolerant. Araucaria bidwillii has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus clarum fungi (ecto-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". The tree's flower-morphology is bi-sexual and is pollinated by wind. Araucaria bidwillii is evergreen and a bit allelopathic and has thorns.

Araucaria bidwillii thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1200 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -5°C; optimally between 20 - 27°C. The optimal rainfall is 1900 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 900 - 2000mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind very tolerant and to fire a bit tolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Araucaria bidwillii is susceptible to the following pests: . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: (missing data) , , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are stratificant and can be stored for 2 months. There are approximative 73.5 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds moisty at a chilling temperature of 3-7 degrees C for 2-4 months
• (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.
• (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.