Common Name and Type Genus: Araucaria family, derived from the Araucaria genus
Distribution: Primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere
Family Size: Three to five genera and about 40 species
Notable Genera: The two main genera in this family that yield commercial lumber are Araucaria (the type genus) and Agathis (kauri).
Comments: Trees in the Araucariaceae family are generally regarded to be very primitive, with several genera and species now being extinct and well-represented in fossil records. One such example is Araucarioxylon arizonicum, found in abundance within the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.
Extant species can grow to be very large and tall trees, sometimes exploited (and endangered) commercially. Two such examples are New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) and Parana pine (Araucaria angustifolia).
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