Norfolk Island Pine (with cones)

Description:

Araucaria heterophylla is a distinctive conifer, a member of the ancient and now disjointly distributed family Araucariaceae. As its name suggests, the tree is endemic to Norfolk Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The genus Araucaria occurs across the South Pacific. It is sometimes called a 'star pine', 'triangle tree' or 'living christmas tree', due to its symmetrical shape as a sapling, although it is not a true pine. In its native habitat, this tree may reach 200 feet in height with 15 pound cones. They're not fond of the cold, preferring a more temperate climate.

Habitat:

These specimens were found in Toowoomba, SEQ, at an elevation of around 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. They seem to be healthy trees and although they tend to prefer warmer climes, appear to be able to cope with Toowoomba's cool/cold winters.

Notes:

This tree had plenty of pine cones. Each was roughly the size of a grapefruit, or a softball (for those who play softball).