Some sort of evergreen....

[NickfromWI]

I think I used to know what this was...it looks familiar.

Here's the whole tree.

 

[NickfromWI]

Here's the bark

 

[NickfromWI]

Very distinct branch structure...the limbs are just VERY straight...

 

[NickfromWI]

And the leaves/needles

 

[NickfromWI]

little closer...

 

[NickfromWI]

and the closest..

 

[Leon]

It's either Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris) or Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). They can be difficult to tell apart sometimes. The female seed cone is the easiest way to differntiate between the two.

 

[treesandsurf]

are those common where you are nick (souther ca??), we've got them all over here in hawaii...

jp

 

[Colin]

Here's an excellent thread where this has been scrutinized before with great pics and detail.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=22892

I vote Cook Island Pine hands down. The slight bend in the trunk is a dead set give away amongst other things.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Very enlightening! I will have to take a closer at out Norfies. I didn't get close ups of the foliage because I wasn't questioning the ID, but what do you think of this one?

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

One more...a little closer view to see the split that caused us concern

 

[VCTREE]

nice wind load on a nasty crotch.

 

[The_REVerend]

Looks like Norfolk Island Pine?
We just get them at Xmas as house plants here so I could be wrong but the branches look like it
Rev

 

[RGus]

I would have said Norfolk right away. I was unaware of the Cook Pine, I will have to pay closer attention next time I see one.

 

[Leon]

There is often a mixup between the common names of Cook and Norfolk pine. Around here at least, 95% of what people call Norfolk Pine is actually Cook Pine. Those look like Cook Pine to me, but then again it's not always easy to tell the difference.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Well slap my assk and call me Sally!!
I believe we are probably abou the same..95% misidentified. We have been checking out the "norfies" all the time now and the form is definitely different. There is only 1 tree we think might really be a Norfolk. I looked at the scales from the cones (no cones now) and the hooks are huge! I wouldn't want to be walking around barefoot underneath one.
Anyway, this thread has been very educational. Thanx!

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

I hope I'm not appearing to beat a dead horse. I looked up the trees in a book on tropicals I have and sure enough, most of us in FL are completely misidentifying Cooks as Norfolks. This tree is similar. It is definitely an Araucaria, my guess is bidwillii, but I'm not positive. Can anyone confirm?
the tree
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/mrsmorningwood/smallercanopy.jpg

the bark
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/mrsmorningwood/smallerbark.jpg

the leaves and male seeds (I think, because females are supposed to be big and fat...and watch your comments on that one!)
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o41/mrsmorningwood/smallerleavesandcatkins.jpg

 

[Leon]

It looks like Araucaria bidwillii to me too. If you see any female seed cones take some pictures. Another couple species that look similar to A. bidwillii and might be worth taking a look at are A. araucana and A. angustifolia.

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Interesting!! I've seen pics of those before.

The only araucaria that grows up our way is the monkey puzzle, which I know also thrive in Souther Cali.....There are some huge ones up here in the Pacific NW...

 

[Roger_Barnett]

Interesting!! I've seen pics of those before.

The only araucaria that grows up our way is the monkey puzzle, which I know also thrive in Southern Cal.....There are some huge ones up here in the Pacific NW...