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Bunya Pine
In Queensland, one of the most readily recognised conifers
is the Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii).
It is found in subtropical rainforest and is confined to
Queensland, where it occurs mainly between Nambour and Gympie
and west to the Bunya Mountains, with a small occurrence
in north Queensland on Mt. Lewis and at Cunnabullen Falls
[2].
Bunya pine has been used extensively for the quality of
its timber, but it is now more often sought after as a potted
plant and for its five centimetre long edible nuts [4].
These nuts were such a popular food that tribes came from
hundreds of kilometres around the Bunya Mountains in southern
Queensland to feast on them [3].
The Queensland Forest Service in 1920/21 launched the first
of its commercial native conifer plantations. More than
60,000 nursery-raised seedlings, mostly hoop and bunya
pine, were planted on 113 acres (46 hectares) in three
areas of the State - the Mary Valley, Atherton and Fraser
Island [5].
Some trialling of Bunya pine in plantations has also occurred
in northern NSW. However, there are no longer significant
new commercial plantings of Bunya pine [6].
More Online Information
For a Photo
of the tree follow this link
[1]. [http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/jpg/970814.jpg]
For a Photo
of the cone (fruit) follow this link
[1]. [http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/jpg/bunya-n.jpg]
Next >> Norfolk Island
Pine - again favoured as a commercially available timber?
(Even More) Online Information
To read about bunya nuts as a bush
tucker - with recipes - follow this link [2].
Citations
[1] ASGAP (Association of Societies for
Growing Australian Plants) (2001). Australian Native
Plants: Photo Gallery [WWW online database] URL http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/index.html
(Note: photos copyright Brian Walters, unless indicated
on the site)
[2] ASGAP (Association of Societies for
Growing Australian Plants) (1997, December). Australian
Plants online: December 1997 Edition ["Bunya Feast
by Sked, J. & Macdonald, C."] [WWW Document] URL
http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/APOL8/dec97-3.html
[3] Australian National Botanic Gardens
(2000). Aboriginal Trail [WWW Document] URL http://www.anbg.gov.au/anbg/aboriginal-trail.html
(visited January, 2001)
[4] Earle C.J. (Editor) (1999, March). Gymnosperm
Database: Taxon Descriptions ["Araucariaceae"]
[WWW online database] URL www.conifers.org/
[5] Holzworth, P. & Hatcher, I (2000,
August). Between the Leaves (The DPI Forestry and Department
of Natural Resources Journal) ["THE EVERGREEN YEARS:
Milestones in Queensland's forest history"] [WWW Document]
URL
http://www.forests.qld.gov.au/educat/btl/evergreen.htm
[6] NFI (National Forest Inventory) (1998).
National Forest Inventory Australia: Plantation Estates
[WWW Document] URL
http://www.brs.gov.au/nfi/forestinfo/plantation.html
Copyright D. L. Christiansen [Last updated
February 2001] Images: respective copyright owners noted/cited.
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