What is this ?

And what tree did it come from ?

 

looks a lot like a cone from Sequoiadendron but more elongated..

 

Hmmm..I'm inclined to think that it is an Araucaria bidwilli or Bunya Bunya cone.

 

I'd agree with Araucaria bidwilli.

 

cool, I want one. I have never seen a cone levitate before, should make for great show and tell. :D

 

Me too please!!

I'd wondered about the levitation too, particaularly as they weigh about 2-3kg.

 

David R .Yes you are right .
I edited my hand out so as not to give away the size .
I'll now show the real Pic.
The hand would have given away the cone size .
I'll dig up a Pic. of the tree taken last week end .

 

Here is that Pic of the tree .
They have a very cone shaped top unlike no other conifer.

 

Some other Araucaria species aren't too different, though: Araucaria araucana here

 

Hi Michael F,
I was Quoting from the book "Joe's Book, The Bunya Mountains "
These branches are not to be messed with .
Each leaf is like a dagger .

 

Hi Ginger,

Nice pic!

Here's A. araucana for comparison (with cone) . . . also not to be messed with :-)

 

Araucaria and Bunya at 40 paces.......

2-3 Kg is that the norm? What happens if you are standing under said trees if they come down. Bit like a widowmaker gum tree. If the cones are a danger do councils rope them off or similar when they shed.

Just curious please.
Liz

 

The potential for a fatality is there, but the chances of actually being hit are low. I've heard of trees being roped off during the period when the cones come down.

It would be interesting to know what traditions the Bunya Native Australian people have regarding safety - they of course harvest the cones as an important food resource, and must be under pressure to get to the cones as soon as they fall, before other animals take them.

No problems with Araucaria araucana, in that species the cones break up on the tree before falling, unlike A. bidwillii. So all you get is a shower of loose seeds.

 

Liz ,
Check this link out.

http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2002/HSG/hsg4.html

Michael F, Great Pic you posted there . Did you take it ?

 

Yep! Just the day before I posted it, too.

Urban legend! ;-) http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020719.html