Araucaria cunninghamii

Botanical Name: Araucaria cunninghamii
Author: Aiton ex A.Cunn.
Common Name: Hoop Pine
Family: Araucariaceae

Location

A large erect tree which occurs in New Guinea and along the coast and ranges from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland south to northern New South Wales.

Our trees on the Gap are displaying their cones at the moment, and are worth a visit.

It is a remnant species from when Australia was a much wetter continent and is now found scattered through rainforest, rocky gorges and along stream banks. The rough bark has circular hoops formed by cracks, giving the tree its common name.

Hoop pine is widely planted for forestry purposes (the timber is valuable for indoor work and joinery) and as specimen trees in parks and public gardens, but is generally considered too large for home gardens.