Toward the characteristics of the development of the seedlings and immature plants of Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch (Araucariaceae) in its natural habitats (Neuquén Province, Argentina)

Araucaria forests were studied and their types were distinguished. Descriptive characteristics of defined forest types were established. Araucaria araucana regrowth rate and seed survival expressed as thousands per hectare were estimated in the natural habitats of araucaria. The anatomical features of needles of immature and generative plants were compared. A. araucana life cycle from the seedling to the immature developmental stage was described. Growth power classes of immature plants were defined according to the environmental conditions of A. araucana growth.