Parana pine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Candelabra Tree
• Parana Pine
• Paraná-pine
• Brazilian-pine
• Parana-pine
• candelabra-tree
• Paraná Araucaria
• Paraná pine
• Parana Araucaria

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Columbea angustifolia
• Araucaria angustifolia var. vinacea
• Pinus dioica
• Araucaria brasiliana
• Columbea brasiliana
• Araucaria angustifolia var. alba
• Araucaria dioica
• Araucaria angustifolia var. caiova
• Araucaria angustifolia var. caiuva
• Araucaria ridolfiana
• Araucaria angustifolia f. catharinensis
• Araucaria saviana
• Araucaria angustifolia var. dependens
• Columbea brasiliana var. ridolfiana
• Araucaria angustifolia var. indehiscens
• Araucaria brasiliana var. gracilis
• Araucaria angustifolia var. monoica
• Araucaria angustifolia var. nigra
• Araucaria brasiliana var. ridolfiana
• Araucaria angustifolia var. sancti-josephi
• Araucaria angustifolia var. semialba
• Araucaria angustifolia var. stricta
• Araucaria brasiliana var. elegans
• Araucaria brasiliana var. saviana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Pinidae and the order Pinales, falling under the family Araucariaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Araucararia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located in the Southeast region of Brazil. It also has a significant presence throughout the South of Brazil. Moving beyond Brazilian borders, its range extends into the Northeast of Argentina. Additionally, the species can be found within the territory of Paraguay. These areas collectively represent the natural geographical distribution of this medicinal species in Southern South America.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Araucararia angustifolia is characterized by its presence in specific high-altitude environments, primarily within the Campo de Altitude and the Floresta Ombrófila Mista. This species thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at 500 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2750 m AMSL. This distribution dictates its adaptation to the unique climatic and soil conditions found within these distinct subtropical forest and grassland mosaics.

Elevational range max:

2750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo de Altitude, Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Araucararia angustifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring a long-lasting presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs high above the ground on woody stems, a structural trait common to both its classification as a phanerophyte and its robust growth habit. Throughout its existence, the plant remains evergreen, retaining its foliage year-round rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Araucaria angustifolia is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree, reaching a mean and maximum height of approximately 35 m. It exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, functioning as an independent organism without the need for climbing structures or parasitic reliance. As a strictly terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic life stages, maintaining a robust and stable structural form typical of long-lived gymnosperms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

35 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Araucaria angustifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many gymnosperms that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic framework dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and gas exchange patterns. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, making it dependent on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate for its growth and developmental processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Araucararia angustifolia is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. The species exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that follow a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals for their distribution. These seeds are relatively substantial in size, with a mean mass of approximately 7.82 g, though they can vary in weight from a minimum of 5 g to a maximum of 10 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Seed mass max:

10 g

Seed mass mean:

7.822641233 g

Seed mass min:

5 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Araucaria angustifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include PROPOLIS.

PROPOLIS

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences