Araucaria biramulata

Araucaria biramulata, the biramule araucaria, or piggyback araucaria, is a species of conifer in the family Araucariaceae. It is found only in New Caledonia on the main island of Grande Terre. Araucaria biramulata is a medium-large tree reaching 30 meters in height.^[2] As with several other endemic New Caledonian araucaria species, it is threatened by habitat loss with a fragmented wild population of less than 10,000 mature trees, and ongoing decline in remaining populations, with the main threats being forest fires and mining activities.^[1] Piggyback araucaria gets its common name from the unusual growth habit of mature trees, where they often develop a second growth tip halfway up the trunk, giving the appearance of a smaller tree "piggybacking" on the side of a larger one.^[3]

Araucaria biramulata
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Araucariales
Family:	Araucariaceae
Genus:	Araucaria
Section:	A. sect. Eutacta
Species:	A. biramulata
Binomial name
Araucaria biramulata Buchh.

Araucaria biramulata in Blue Mountains Botanic Garden

References

1. Thomas, P. (2010). "Araucaria biramulata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T30982A9586835. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T30982A9586835.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
2. Araucaria biramulata, The Gymnosperm Database
3. James E Eckenwalder. Conifers of the World, The Complete Reference. p 156. Timber Press 2009. ISBN 9780881929744