Araucaria (4) Fossil Wood Trunk mm 73

Small Trunk of silicified Wood Fossil of Conifer Araucaria sp., 136.8 gr - cm 7.3 x 4.8 x 3. Polished section, only a  piece, as in  pictures.

Araucaria (Juss 1789) is a genus of evergreen conifers in the family Araucariaceae which includes about a dozen still existing original tree species in the southern hemisphere, once widespread throughout Gondwana. The genus name is derived from Araucanos, indigenous tribes of Chile, the original region of the A. araucana.
Araucaria are mainly large trees with a massive erect stem, reaching a height of 30-80 meters. The branches, horizontal diffusion grow in vortexes and are covered with leathery or needle-like leaves. In some species, the leaves are narrow, awl-shaped and lanceolate, barely overlap one another; in others they are broad and flat, and overlap in general.
There is no distinct common name for the genus, but most often is called "pine", although they are only distant relatives of the true pines (Pinus).
Members of existing Araucaria are found in South America and Oceania. There is also a significant population of naturalized Araucaria columnaris ("Cook pine") in the island of Lanai, Hawaii (USA). Many if not all current populations are relicts, and of restricted distribution. These columnar trees are living fossils, dating back to the Mesozoic Era. Fossil finds show that the genre in the past was also widespread in the Northern Hemisphere to the end of the Cretaceous period.
There is evidence to suggest that the long necks of sauropods dinosaurs may have evolved specifically to prune the tree tops, typically very high, of Araucaria. The global distribution of the vast forests of Araucaria during the Jurassic makes it likely that they were the main energy source of food for the giant sauropods adults.
Her are some recognized extinct genera:
† Araucaria nipponensis - Japan
† Araucaria brownii - England
† Araucaria mirabilis - Patagonia
† Araucaria sphaerocarpa - England
† Araucaria haastii - New Zealand
† Araucaria lignitici - (Paleogene) Yallourn, Victoria
† Araucaria vulgaris - Japan
† Araucaria desmondii
† Araucaria fibrous
† Araucaria beipiaoensis
† Araucaria nihongii - Japan
† Araucaria taieriensis - New Zealand
† Section Perpendicula. Contains only one specie
† Section Yezonia. Contains only one specie