Araucaria araucana
Monkey Puzzle Tree
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Araucaria genus in the family Araucariaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araucariaceae
- Genus
- Araucaria
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 30 m
- Spread
- 15 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
None known
Edible uses
Seed - raw or cooked. Rich in starch[6]. The seed is soft like a cashew nut and has a slight flavour of pine nuts. This is a delicious seed and it makes very pleasant eating. It is a food that can easily be eaten in quantity and can be used as a staple food in the diet[K]. Fairly large, the seeds are about the size of an almond and can be 3cm long x 1cm wide. They are harvested in the autumn and, when kept in cool, dry conditions will store for at least 9 months[K].
- Plant part
- Seed
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
A resin obtained from incisions in the trunk is used in the treatment of ulcers and wounds[10][11][4].
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Material uses
Very tolerant of maritime exposure, trees can be grown as part of a shelterbelt, though they are very slow growing and have an open canopy and so do not give a lot of shelter[12][15]. A resin is obtained from incisions in the trunk. This is used mainly for medicinal purposes[10][11][4]. Wood - pale yellowish, good quality, takes a beautiful polish. Used for joinery and carpentry[1][10][11][4].
- Product or use
- Resin
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- S. America - S. Chile
- Habitat
- Mountain slopes in deep sandy soils in coniferous woodland, usually with Nothofagus spp[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[3] or it can be stored cool and moist then sown February in a greenhouse[13][14]. Although the plants are quite cold-tolerant, the root systems of seedling plants can be damaged in spells of very cold weather so give some extra protection at this time if necessary. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 15°c[3]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The plants have a rather sparse root system and are best placed in their final positions as soon as possible. Give them some protection for their first winter[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, May to July in a cold frame. Only epicormic side-shoots should be used, normal side-shoots do not develop properly[15]. An epicormic shoot is one that develops from a dormant bud on the main trunk of the tree[K].
Cultivation
Prefers a deep well-drained soil[2][9]. Dislikes hot dry soils[1]. Dislikes atmospheric pollution[5]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure and salt laden winds[12][15]. The monkey puzzle is a very slow growing tree that can take 5 - 10 years before it even gets above grass height and then grows around 35cm a year[7]. New growth takes place from late June to September[7]. The seed forms a staple food for the native Indians in regions where it grows in Chile, it is also sold in local markets there[10][4]. This tree has an excellent potential to become a commercial crop in the western parts of Britain, it is high yielding, has large tasty seeds and is easily harvested. Its main disadvantages are its slow rate of growth and the time it takes before the first crop is produced - this can be up to 40 years from seed though we have often seen plants less than 20 years old produce cones[K]. The plant is dioecious so at least one male plant needs to be grown for every 5 - 6 females - unfortunately there is no way of telling the sex of the tree until it flowers. There are means of vegetative reproduction and it might be possible to produce clones of known sex in the future - these will probably come into bearing at an earlier age. If you have the space to plant at least 5 trees, and the foresight, this is a tree that will be a very valuable food crop in the future[K]. It is said that 18 good-sized trees can provide enough for an adult's sustenance all year round[8]. Plants grow best in S.W. England and along the west coast of Britain where they produce seed regularly and abundantly[2][14]. Female cones take 2 - 3 years to mature and break up at the end of the year[7]. They contain up to 200 large seeds. Plants self-sow in Cornwall[14]. We have records of trees regularly producing good crops of seeds in various sites in Cornwall, Devon and the west coast of Scotland. We also have one report of an excellent crop in 1997 from trees at Alvaston Castle near Derby and of a tree in Bedfordshire producing a heavy crop[K]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[15][9]. Unlike most conifers, this tree can be coppiced[15].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X