Aside of politics, one of my other interests is that of unusual (and beautiful) plants. I should confess I'm not a botanist. I just have a love of the natural world - both plants and animals. And since I'm something of a conservationist, I'm often eager to talk with people about plants, trees & natural resources in general. I thought I'd share one of my most recent loves - The Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana). This plant is indeed unusual in terms of its history and biology.
This enigmatic tree is native to Chile and Argentina, though it's gaining in popularity in the states. It's found in many places world-wide because it's a rather hardy plant. Besides Chile, this tree has become popular in England and the west coast of the US (i.e., Oregon and Washington state). But, this species doesn't thrive well in very dry-hot climates. This plant is currently classified as Vulnerable (one step above endangered) by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Here's a picture of a younger tree ~
Here are some additional fun-facts about this delightful plant. The Monkey Puzzle Tree is the National Tree of Chile. Botanists also believe this tree can live to up to 2,000 years old (even perhaps older). In the native language of Chile, this tree is called - Araucaria, Pino Araucana, Pino Chileno, and Piñonero. This tree is also called the Chilean Pine, although, this tree is not a "true" pine. In terms of location, this tree grows mostly in the Coastal Cordillera of Chile to the Andes in Argentina.
In my eyes, the Monkey Puzzle Tree (a.k.a. the Chilean Pine), looks like a cross between a cactus and evergreen tree. I have often also thought of it as a bunch of pipe-cleaners wrapped together. To show what I mean, here are a few camera shots of the tree branches. You'll notice that in the younger versions of these trees, almost every inch of the plant is covered with triangular "leaves." Some scientists believe that these pointy leaves are the reason that the tree has survived since the Age of the Dinosaurs. That is to say, scientists believe that these leaves prevented the dinosaurs from eating the tree. Today, it's commonly thought that this unique tree species is over 60 Million years old.
In this close-up, you can see the unique triangular, but pointy leaves of the tree, which can be a bit sharp to the touch. But in general, it's harmless and safe ~
This photo shows you how the tree pods will grow on the branches. The nuts in these pods are eaten by the indigenous Mapuche Indians of Chile (as a major carbohydrate source). The Mapuche Indians also revere this tree because of its religious significances in their cultures. Supposedly, the trees' nuts are rather tasty and commonly used in cooking by some peoples of Chile. ~
In one final photo, we see the Monkey Puzzle Tree lives up to its name as a "living fossil." The picture below shows some fossilized pine cones from the Monkey Puzzle Tree that have been cut in half. Truth be told, the Monkey Puzzle Tree has few close relatives today, though there are some: Araucaria hunsteinii (New Guinea); Araucaria bidwillii (Australia); Araucaria angustifolia (Argentina/Brazil).
Here are some further stats on the Monkey Puzzle Tree from Dave's Garden website (below). As I said, I'm not a botanist, more like an enthusiast & conservationist. I can't personally testify to what having one of these trees in my yard, but I'm really an admirer of it. I'd be curious to know your experiences (with the tree) if you do have one of these fascinating trees on your land. ~
Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Pinophyta; Class: Pinopsida; Order: Pinales; Family: Araucariaceae; Genus: Araucaria; Species: A. araucana
Height Information:
Will grow to over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing Needed:
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
Hardiness Factor:
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
(The full-grown Araucaria araucana is also fire-resistant)
Sun Exposure Range:
Lives in Full Sun
Dangers to People:
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
N/A
Bloom Color:
Brown/Bronze
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Foliage:
Grown for foliage/ornamental quality
Evergreen
Other details about the Tree:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil PH requirements:
4.6 to 5.0 (highly acidic)
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
Propagation Methods:
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
If you're wondering about the name of the tree - "The Monkey Puzzle Tree," there's a story that explains the origins, though I can't find complete documentation. The story goes that - When an Englishman first observed the tree, he expressed his surprise at the pointy leaves on the branches of the tree. He remarked that he thought a monkey would have a very tough time climbing such a tree because of the pointy leaves (in other words, it would be a kind of impossible puzzle for the monkey).
If you're interested in adding the Monkey Puzzle Tree to your own garden, there are some stores (online included) that will ship them to your home. I'm not saying you should buy one, but since I'm a conservationist, I think there is value to planting new trees. Each year, the combination of forest fires and human impact - are the causes of forest depletion. You can visit the Forest Farm Company to purchase one. It will be delivered to your door. Or, you can dedicate a tree in someone's name by visiting the Tree2MyDoor.com site and giving to help a Monkey Puzzle Conservation Project in Chile.
Thoughts? Any favorite plant/tree stories? I'd love to hear'em. Thanks!