Araucaria heterophylla or A. excelsa is a distinctive conifer. It is sometimes called a star pine triangle tree or living Christmas tree due to its symmetrical shape as a sapling, although it is not a true pine. The distinctive appearance of this tree, with its widely spaced branches and symmetrical, triangular outline, has made it a popular cultivated species, either as a single tree or in avenues. When the tree reaches maturity, the shape may become less symmetrical.