Chinese Monkey Year Theme Gardening With Candelabra Tree Gardens

Summary: Americanized Chinese monkey year theme gardening respects cultural diversity and environmental sustainability with American candelabra tree gardens.

Candelabra tree (Araucaria angustifolia), also known as Paraná pine or Brazilian pine, is a critically endangered conifer; pinheiros do paraná at sunrise, Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, border of states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brasil; July 28, 2012: Heris Luiz Cordeiro Rocha, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

American candelabra tree gardens, American monkey flower gardens and American monkey puzzle tree gardens appear along with Asian monkey grass gardens as year-round attractions within Americanized Chinese monkey year theme gardening plans.

Candelabra trees bear the additional common names Brazilian pine and Paraná pine as native evergreens of six southern Brazilian states and as state symbol for Paraná. They carry the scientific name Araucaria angustifolia (narrow-leaved Araucanian) as icons of South America's ancient Araucanian peoples and relatives of wide-leaved monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana). Their candleholder-like, dome-shaped crowns of upward-pointing branch tips atop long, straight trunks do not defer to the monkey tail-like descriptions of their monkey puzzle tree relatives.

Candelabra trees endure abundant rainfall, light shade, occasional frosts at 23 to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 5 to minus 20 degrees Celsius) and subtropical climates.

Candelabra trees naturally favor slightly acidic, sunny, well-drained soils at 1,600- to 5,900-foot (487.68- to 1,798.32-meter) altitudes above sea level in Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil.

North American coasts and microclimates generate light, moisture, nutrient and temperature levels that Alto Paraguay, Corrientes and Misiones in Argentina and southern Brazil give candelabra trees. Southern Brazil's sustainable specimens in Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo have 140- to 250-year life expectancies. Mature diameters at breast height and mature heights include respective ranges of 3.25 feet (0.99 meter) and of 130 to 160 feet (39.62 to 48.77 meters).

Americanized Chinese monkey year theme gardening plans jumble monkey puzzle tree's brown inner bark and white resin with reddish bark and resin from candelabra tree gardens.

Symmetrical, thick branches keep dark green, 1.2- to 2.5-inch- (3.05- to 6.35-centimeter-) long by 0.2- to 0.4-inch- (5.08- to 10.16-millimeter-) broad-based, scale-like, thick, tough, triangular needles.

Generations of sharp-pointed, sharp-tipped needles leave all but the critically endangered species' oldest branches and straight trunks light-, moisture-, temperature-controlled for successive 10- to 15-year stretches. They maintain 2.4- to 7-inch- (6.09- to 17.78-centimeter-) long by 0.6- to 1.0-inch- (15.24- to 25.4-millimeter-) broad pollen cones on male trees in candelabra tree gardens. Female trees aged 12 years old and up nurture mature seed cones 7 to 10 inches (17.78- to 25.4-millimeters) in diameter within 18 to 36 months.

Wind pollination of female and male trees offers Americanized Chinese monkey year theme gardening 100 to 150 narrow-winged, 2-inch (5.08-centimeter) seeds from every brown, globe-like cone.

Candelabra trees, described by botanists Antonio Bertoloni (Feb. 8, 1775-April 17, 1869) and Carl Ernst Otto Kuntze (June 23, 1843-Jan. 27, 1907), produce edible, six-week viable seeds.

Azure jays (Cyanocorax caeruleus) qualify as primary wildlife dispersers of air- and animal-dispensed seeds whose germination quickens within three months of quitting their dispersers' digestive tracts. Research reveals farming, logging and seed-collecting as reducing 9,000-square-mile (23,309.98-square-kilometer) original distribution ranges by 97 percent and removing 7,500,000 pounds (3,401.94 tonnes) of seeds each year. Seeds, known as pinhões (pine nuts), serve as boiled, roasted, saltwater-cooked treats with mulled wine at Santa Catarina's yearly fair in Lagos and as popular snacks.

Cultivated, naturalized North American and native, wild South American candelabra tree gardens transform Americanized Chinese monkey year theme gardening plans into culturally diverse, environmentally sustainable tributes.

Candelabra tree (Araucaria angustifolia) seeds are dispersed by azure jays (Cyanocorax caeruleus) and consumed by birds, humans and mammals; female cone with seeds of Paraná pine (pinheiro do Paraná); Aug. 19, 2009: Deyvid Setti and Eloy Olindo Setti, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Candelabra tree (Araucaria angustifolia), also known as Paraná pine or Brazilian pine, is a critically endangered conifer; pinheiros do paraná at sunrise, Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, border of states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brasil; July 28, 2012: Heris Luiz Cordeiro Rocha, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arauc%C3%A1rias_ao_fundo_Parque_Nacional_da_Serra_da_Bocaina_-_denoise.jpg

female cone with seeds of Paraná pine (pinheiro do Paraná); Aug. 19, 2009: Deyvid Setti and Eloy Olindo Setti, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Araucaria_seeds.JPG

For further information:

"Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze." Tropicos® > Name Search.
Available @ http://www.tropicos.org/Name/2300003

Earle, Christopher J. 2017. "Araucaria angustifolia." The Gymnosperm Database.
Available @ http://www.conifers.org/ar/Araucaria_angustifolia.php

Knox, Gary W. "Paraná Pine, Araucaria angustifolia: An Ancient-Looking Conifer for Modern Landscapes." Electronic Data Information Source > University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension > Environmental Horticulture Department > Document ENH1248.
Available @ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep509

Kuntze, Otto. 1898. "Araucaria angustifolia OK." Revisio Generum Plantarum, vol. 3, part 3: 375. Leipzig: Arthur Felix; London: Dulau & Co.; Melbourne: George Robertson & Co.; Milano: U. Hoepli; New York: Gust. E. Stechert; Paris: Charles Klinksieck.
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3593
Available via Missouri Botanical Garden Library's Botanicus Digital Library @ http://www.botanicus.org/page/3593

Marriner, Derdriu. 2 January 2016. "Chinese Monkey Year Theme Gardening With Monkey Puzzle Tree Gardens." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/01/chinese-monkey-year-theme-gardening.html

"Paraná Pine (Araucaria angustifolia)." Arkive > Species > Plants and Algae.
Available @ http://www.arkive.org/parana-pine/araucaria-angustifolia/

"Paraná Pine Araucaria angustifolia." Global Trees Campaign > Threatened Trees.
Available @ http://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/parana-pine/

Thomas, P. 2013. "Araucaria angustifolia." The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2013: e.T32975A2829141. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32975A2829141.en.
Available @ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32975/0