[f. Arauco name of a province, whence the Araucanos Indians, and the territory of Araucania, south of Chili.] A genus of lofty coniferous trees, native to the southern hemisphere, one species of which (A. imbricata, familiarly termed ‘Puzzle-monkey’ or ‘Monkey-puzzler’), with the branches in regular whorls, and closely imbricated stiff sharp-pointed leaves, has been, since about 1830, cultivated as an ornamental tree in Britain.
1833. Penny Cycl., II. 249. Araucaria, in Botany, is the name of a singular genus of gigantic firs. A. imbricata … is expected to be naturalised in this country, as some individuals now exist as far north as London.
1870. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., iv. 73. The formal educated look of the tree in the Araucarias that cover the wild slopes of the Chilian Andes.
