According to my cousin, this is a Monkey Puzzle Tree. Here's what he posted on my photo on Facebook:
Looks to be a species of Araucaria, probably A. araucana, more commonly known as the Monkey Puzzle tree. Native to the Andes where the seeds are a staple food of some indigenous peoples. As the seeds were considered sacred, it took a while for some bloke to smuggle them back to Europe and grow it in a garden. The story goes that some droll gentleman remarked that it must be quite a puzzle for a monkey to climb due to spiky leaves, and thus the common name. It is an old Gymnosperm lineage, relatives were probably really good dinosaur food (they shot a bunch of the live action "Walking With Dinosaurs" footage in South American Araucaria forests because the vegetation was appropriate to paste the CGI dinos into).
I've never seen one of these before our trip to Gig Harbor. It looks like a pine, but very odd indeed!
What a magnificent tree. It is not a tree we have around here in southeast Texas. But parts of it, oddly, resemble other trees I have seen. Wonderful photos.
Trish, it's definitely a unique tree. I couldn't stop gazing up at it. It's the only one we saw while walking around Gig Harbor and the only one I've ever seen! I wonder if there's a story behind it and how it came to grow in that area.
What a fabulous tree!
ReplyDeleteKathy, I thought it was beautiful and strange at the same time. Never seen anything like it!
DeleteGreat pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly. It was a gorgeous afternoon!
DeleteLooks like a Monkey Puzzle Tree to me.
ReplyDeleteJulie, you would be correct!
DeleteVery cool tree.
ReplyDeleteColleen, I agree. I've never seen a tree like it before but I guess they're common to the PNW.
DeleteI love the way the branches droop down. It's a great shot.
ReplyDeleteJulie, it's certainly an interesting tree. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteWhat is that tree? Very, very strange!
ReplyDeleteNan, it is very strange, yet beautiful!
DeleteAccording to my cousin, this is a Monkey Puzzle Tree. Here's what he posted on my photo on Facebook:
ReplyDeleteLooks to be a species of Araucaria, probably A. araucana, more commonly known as the Monkey Puzzle tree. Native to the Andes where the seeds are a staple food of some indigenous peoples. As the seeds were considered sacred, it took a while for some bloke to smuggle them back to Europe and grow it in a garden. The story goes that some droll gentleman remarked that it must be quite a puzzle for a monkey to climb due to spiky leaves, and thus the common name. It is an old Gymnosperm lineage, relatives were probably really good dinosaur food (they shot a bunch of the live action "Walking With Dinosaurs" footage in South American Araucaria forests because the vegetation was appropriate to paste the CGI dinos into).
I've never seen one of these before our trip to Gig Harbor. It looks like a pine, but very odd indeed!
What a magnificent tree. It is not a tree we have around here in southeast Texas. But parts of it, oddly, resemble other trees I have seen. Wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I think it resembles a pine tree in many ways. I couldn't stop admiring it!
DeleteNever heard of that! great shot.
ReplyDeleteSuzy, I hadn't heard of it either. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteMonkey Puzzle Tree, huh? I don't think I've ever seen one before but very cool looking!
ReplyDeleteTrish, it's definitely a unique tree. I couldn't stop gazing up at it. It's the only one we saw while walking around Gig Harbor and the only one I've ever seen! I wonder if there's a story behind it and how it came to grow in that area.
Delete