Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

April 2008, Norfolk Pine, Araucaria heterophylla

For a change we are featuring a tree instead of a flower. Not only is the Norfolk pine not a flower, it is not strictly speaking a pine tree either. The Norfolk pine, properly a conifer with its nearest relative the familiar monkey puzzle tree, is endemic to Norfolk Island near Australia and is a relic of the Mesozoic era, evolving about 245 million years ago at the same time as the first dinosaurs. In the 18th and 19th centuries the island was a penal colony and many of the convicts were employed felling the trees for use by the Royal Navy. Fortunately iron and steel replaced wood before the trees were totally extinct but then, during World War II, the American Air Force felled hundreds in order to build an airstrip. Only a few remained until saplings were taken to be grown in other countries, so saving this fine tree. One such sapling finished its journey in the Parque ‘La Bateria’ in Torremolinos. As you can see from the photograph it has unusual foliage, a rare opportunity to see one of our plant ancestors.