#heterophylla

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

Two Norfolk Island Araucaria on a property in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. Looking at the shape of the two and their leaf morphology I would say they are related parent and child tree! The larger of the two looks to be much older with a very thick trunk and matches the size of the seven sisters in the ferndale park nearby. Maybe this one should be called the cousin, I suspect they are from the same source and the larger about the same age! Interestingly the thick base does not match its height of the tree and foliage is reminiscent of old growth norfolk's. The juvenile looking top is also odd! I could not see through the branches but I think it must have been topped or damaged. luckily, she has seemed to recovered, a rare feat for a norfolk so old with this kind of Apical Damage!! In the last image you can see that it looks slightly off center. These trees also have some of the longest bracts I have seen in their lower branches. These are some awesome looking fans of bracts! See the comparison with younger tree on the left and older on the right in both cases. Cool pair of trees.

-36.87932187127858, 174.717053844702

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

One of my favourite rows of Norfolk island araucaria. Massive cool trees located at Browns Bay beach, Auckland, New Zealand. They have not been in the ground for 100 years, I heard a rumour that they are 80, but they are likely 100 based on the size they appear at in photos when they were planted. These 7 line the ANZAC memorial. They have varying levels of health and produce large amounts of seed but have had limited luck growing them so far. They look really cool on the volcanic rock seawall. It’s amazing to see these beachfront trees exhibiting thick chunky bracts all over and none of the usual lower feathery foliage. Amazing how these trees adapt to where they are planted!

-36.712862859497186, 174.7498480372621

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

Large Norfolk island araucaria located in Auckland domain, New Zealand. Big impressive tree may be the tallest in the park. Tree has an interesting shape with winder branches at the top, it looks to be healthier than the 4 planted next to the pond.

-36.86052330893595, 174.7728074142077

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

Four big Norfolk island Araucaria at Browns Bay beach, Auckland, New Zealand. These ones are located in the middle of the bay. Unlike the formally planted row at the Anzac monument they are planted more haphazardly and I wonder based on their size and age they might be left over garden plants from when this stretch of Browns Bay was residential almost 100 years ago. The pair closest to the beach have massive roots exposed to the recently reinforced eroding bank. but despite it seem to be healthy. In the face of a high amount of foot traffic and beach goers using them as a path and seat. They are doing very well!! Very cool cluster of trees!

-36.714866046027254, 174.74950240322931

Check out the trunk scan for yourself here: https://skfb.ly/pLNW

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

I have posted about this tree before it represents 1/3 norfolks in this location, in the Auckland domain, NZ. I visited again there has been alot more degradation in a short amount of time with the other side of the trunk also now splitting and the bark peeling of in a dramatic way. The conditions were poor for photogrammetry but completed a tunk scan anyway attached if you wish to look. He is not looking as well as last time with foliage looking a lot sadder unfortunately I don't think hes got much longer in him. does anyone have any idea what is causing this?

-36.85560471882825, 174.77530706105046

Scan Link: https://skfb.ly/pKQUX

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

One of three big Norfolk Araucaria, this one is (3/3). Located in the Symonds street Cemetery, Anglican Section, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. It is the closest tree to Newton of the three. Visiting all these trees was uncomfortable, but this one was the most frighting mainly due to a recently desecrated tomb nearby. The tree like all three in the cemetery seems to be altering the ground and pushing things around and its unclear if it was planted in or beside a grave that is now gone. It is a very tall and large Araucaria and is impressive and memorable for the amount of its roots showing its so impressive to see how these massive trees hold themselves down. Its easy to forget how much tree is underground. It seems that although it may have pushed a few graves about as it has grown, it is also holding up this part of the hill. Protecting from erosion. Since so much is visible of the roots and lot of graves either side of the tree seem to be moving down the hill I do think shes holding all those around her up. Despite being uncomfortable to visit its nice to imagine that these trees are somewhat protected by this fact. A lack of foot traffic disturbing their ground. This tree is also where I was visited by a native Kereru (seen in the video) and a Piwakawaka which was magical and turned the experience around a little. A bonus is to think this place is habitat in the middle of town for these birds. despite the trash on the ground and uncomfortable reality, its comforting to think that nature does not care about that at all and thrives here, which is think is cool. -36.859863620921125, 174.76366480413756

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

One of three big Norfolk Araucaria, this one is (2/3). It might be my fave of them! Located in the Symonds street Cemetery, Anglican Section, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. This is the one closest to Grafton bridge I wanted to visit this tree for a while I have seen it from the bridge. The Grafton bridge gives a rare opportunity to get up close to the canopy since it is growing close to it. the most interesting thing about this Araucaria is its terminal growth at the top. It seems to have a new lease on life! Usually in tress of this size the apical dominance slows and the top flattens. You don't tend see the iconic star pattern in the terminal growth in old trees. Its hard to see if the growth is from the main trunk or a new offshoot but either way its a few years new! With lower branches showing more typical old Norfolk tops and those top 8 or so whorls as seen in the pics looking very fresh! I wonder if it will equate to more height on this already massive tree!! (Tree on the right shows new terminal growth in image below)

-36.859127927072656, 174.76435226009792

[araucariales]

Araucaria heterophylla

One of three big Norfolk Araucaria, this one is (1/3), located in the Symonds street Cemetery, Anglican Section Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. This tree is closest to Karangahape Rd. Its amazing to see amongst graves starting in the 1840's and it makes me wonder when these trees where planted are. If it was planted at the head of a grave its long absorbed it but it does look like it was in-bettween. The cemetery is in a sad state with lots of broken headstones which was a bit sad. Some looks to be recent intentional damage and some is jsut due to time, there is a lot of rubbish around the graves too. I really liked seeing the trees but overall it was not a pleasant place to visit. However the trees don't seem to mind and less foot traffic may be a boon to them and the native birds I saw on site too! (Left hand tree in the bottom picture viewed from Grafton bridge.) -36.85902392143695, 174.76362712600323