New Caledonian Araucaria

The main diversity among genus Araucaria is hosted in New Caledonia, where 14 species, all endemic, are described out of a total of 20 extant species. These New Caledonian species are mainly found as dispersed populations in open areas, where competition is less intense.

New Caledonia, considered as the smallest of the most significant biodiversity hotspots in the world, hosts a unique flora of which 75.1% is endemic. Species of Araucaria trees can be found in every habitat that New Caledonia possesses. However, almost all of them are growing on ultramafic substrate, characterized by low fertility (low N, P, K levels) and high levels of heavy metals (nickel, cobalt, etc.).

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.