We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Araucaria bidwillii - Hook.

Common Name Bunya-Bunya, Monkey Puzzle Tree, False Monkey Puzzle
Family Araucariaceae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich volcanic soils in moist valleys at low elevations near the coast[81, 167].
Range Australia - Queensland.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Araucaria bidwillii Bunya-Bunya, Monkey Puzzle Tree, False Monkey Puzzle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Liné1
Araucaria bidwillii Bunya-Bunya, Monkey Puzzle Tree, False Monkey Puzzle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgerus/

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Form: Columnar, Pyramidal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Araucaria bidwillii is an evergreen Tree growing to 40 m (131ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - raw, cooked or ground into a powder[1, 2, 81, 157, 183]. Starchy and delicious, it has the texture of a waxy boiled potato with the flavour of chestnuts[183]. Large, it is an important food source for the Australian Aborigines[156]. Cones can be up to 4.5 kilos in weight and contain up to 150 seeds[1]. The germinating seed produces an underground 'earth nut' which has a coconut-like flavour[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Wood

Wood - soft, easily worked, high quality. Used for cabinet making, flooring, plywood etc[156]. The branches are used for fencing and fuel[272].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard  Regional Crop  Staple Crop: Balanced carb

Landscape Uses:Container, Pest tolerant, Aggressive surface roots possible, Specimen. Succeeds in most soils[157]. Plants are resistant to salt spray[157]. Not very hardy outdoors in Britain, it requires a cool greenhouse in most parts of the country[1]. Some provenances should be hardy at least in the milder areas, there is one tree growing in Cornwall at Glendurgan gardens[81]. It was 10 metres tall in 1965[185]. This species is hardy to about -5°c, with occasional lows to -8°c, but it is liable to be killed in severe winters even in the Scilly Isles[200]. In Australia, each Aboriginal family would own a group of trees and these would be passed down from generation to generation[2]. This is said to be the only case of hereditary personal property owned by the Aborigines[2]. Special features:Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

Carbon Farming

  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
  • Staple Crop: Balanced carb  (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[134] or it can be stored cool and moist then sown February in a greenhouse[78, 80]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 15°c[134]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. The plants have a rather sparse root system and are best placed in their final positions as soon as possible. Give them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter[K].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Agathis dammaraAmboina PineTree50.0 10-11 MLMHFSNM004
Agathis macrophyllaDakuaTree30.0 10-12 FLMHFSNM004
Agathis mooreiPacific Kauri, Moore KauriTree25.0 10-12 MLMHFSNM104
Agathis robustaQueensland KauriTree45.0 8-11  LMHSNM003
Araucaria angustifoliaParana Pine. Brazilian-pine, Candelabra-tree.Tree35.0 9-12 SLMHNM313
Araucaria araucanaMonkey Puzzle TreeTree30.0 7-11 SLMHSNM513

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Hook.

Botanical References

81200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Erl Winter   Sun Jul 4 14:42:44 2004

Synonym; this tree is often called the "bunya pine" Google returns 1730 sites for this name and 3960 for "bunya-bunya".

Know Hazards: a 4kg cone dropping some 35 metres can injure or kill a person or animal beneath the tree. The leaves have very sharp points.

Boris   Thu Jun 21 2007

I am looking for Araucaria bidwillii or araucana seeds. If you have some, email me at boris at davyd.de Thanks!

Garry Gatfield   Thu Jan 22 2009

I have eaten Bunya nuts since I was a child, and rate then as 5 on the edibility and nutrition scale, a 3 is a poor rating for such a large delicious nut. goldpan

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Araucaria bidwillii  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.