Took these photos in the San Diego area recently, but not sure what these are. What are the distinguishing characteristics, at this range ? Please ID (thnx).
As you say, it is difficult to tell from this distance. That said, folks in southern California have planted many A. bidwillii over the years, making it a likely candidate. A. angustifolia is critically endangered. Personally, I wish that there was more of an effort to reestablish it in cultivation. Seeds rarely show up on the internet. Actual plants for sale are almost nonexistent. Come to think of it, most Araucariaceae are difficult to find, with exception of a few.
Araucaria bidwillii. The crown shape is right for that; A. angustifolia has a slightly different shape (mainly flatter-topped). Also in pic #3, note the fairly large leaves arranged semi-flattish either side of the shoot; in A. angustifolia they are all round the shoot, more like A. araucana, and less variable in size with none as large as the larger leaves here.
looking at these photos it is definitely a bunya pine and looks to be a bunya pine from the tablelands in far north queensland
