[John]

Here's a nice specimen of Araucaria araucana at Kew earlier this year. Note the relative drought we are increasingly getting in London.

[MikeHardman]

Re A. araucana:
At some times of the year I presume those branches, bristling with pointed leaves, must be good at garnering moisture by condensation overnight and from mists. I know some animals (beetles) and plants do that in Chile, but I'm not sure in which parts; presumably as an adaptation it is most likely in areas of low rainfall.
As saplings, the tough and pointed leaves must be a deterrent to browsing animals. But one could wonder why they retain their pointedness when older and/or above browsing height. Could be a reflection of the existence o tree-dwelling/climbing browsers that are now extinct, I guess. Holes in that argument, though.
Just thinking aloud, wondering if the pointed leaves were a particular adaptation or an incidental characteristic.

[John]

There were the giant slothes but the Araucaria had been around a long time by the time they appeared. Presumably they would have evolved with large herbivores. As shown with these trees on "Planet Dinosaur" recently on TV.

[John]

So I suppose in evolutionary terms you could say "if it aint broke".

[Fleur Pavlidis]

The story of Araucarias and Wollemia can be found in Survivors: The Animals and Plants that Time has Left Behind, by Richard Fortey. Available on Kindle (sorry John J)

[John J]

You're forgiven, if only for those great photos of Autumn colour!

[MikeHardman]

There were the giant slothes but the Araucaria had been around a long time by the time they appeared. Presumably they would have evolved with large herbivores. As shown with these trees on "Planet Dinosaur" recently on TV.

- yes, of course - good thought, John

[John J]

By the way, doesn't Kindle mean 'to set fire to'? Now there's a thought!!!!!