Definition

Noun: * Araucaria excelsa: A tall, symmetrical, evergreen coniferous tree native to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. It is characterized by its distinctive, horizontal, tiered branches covered with soft, scale-like leaves. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree and is also known as the Norfolk Island pine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Araucaria excelsa in the botanical garden has grown over 50 meters tall.
  • We bought a small Araucaria excelsa to decorate the living room for the holidays.
  • The coastal cliffs are home to a native population of Araucaria excelsa.

Advanced Usage

• The term Araucaria excelsa is the formal botanical (Latin) name. In common usage, especially in horticulture and landscaping, the tree is almost exclusively referred to by its common name, "Norfolk Island pine."
• While it is called a "pine," it is not a true pine ( species) but belongs to a different genus within the Araucariaceae family.

Variants and Related Words

• Norfolk Island pine (n): The universally accepted common name for .
• Araucaria heterophylla (n): A synonym for , sometimes used in botanical texts.
• Araucaria (n): The genus name, which includes other species like the monkey puzzle tree ().

Synonyms

• Norfolk Island pine
• Star pine (a less common name)
• Triangle tree (a less common name, referring to the shape of young trees)

Antonyms

• Deciduous tree: A tree that sheds its leaves annually, unlike the evergreen .
• Broadleaf tree: A tree with flat, broad leaves, as opposed to the coniferous, scale-like leaves of .

Noun

1. evergreen of Australia and Norfolk Island in the South Pacific