Showing posts with label Pehuén. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pehuén. Show all posts

Tuesday

Pinhão Monkey Puzzle Chilean Pine Araucaria araucana


  Very unusual, rare and exotic looking prehistoric specimen Tree.  

The Monkey Puzzle Tree is an exotic South American evergreen tree that will grow from the warmest parts of zone 6 to zone 10. It will grow in any soil that is well-drained and typically grows to around 50 feet tall in gardens, although in the wild it can reach 130 feet. This tree grows in a symmetrical conical shape with a strong central trunk and the leathery leaves clasp the stems and persist for many years. The leaves have a sharp point and the way they are wrapped around the stems is almost like a strange kind of snake. The symmetrical shape and dense growth makes this an unusual and attractive tree for larger properties and it is always a conversation piece.


The name "Monkey Puzzle" comes from the fact that the branches have consistent 
 diameters and curve around like a long monkey's tail, where the scaled leaves make the branches look hairy. The scaled leaves look like pieces of a puzzle with their even and angular shape.


In their native range, Monkey Puzzle Trees are prized for their edible pine nuts which are large and delicious. Seeds germinate easy and plant grows zone 6-10.
 

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Monkey Puzzle Tree Pehuén Araucaria araucana


Very unusual and exotic looking prehistoric specimen Tree. The tree is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. 

Because of the great age of this species, it is sometimes described as a living fossil. Its conservation status was changed to Endangered by the IUCN in 2013 due to its declining abundance. 

Distinctive, armor-like, scale-like, triangular leaves, persist for 10 to 15 years, sometimes longer on the trunk, ovate-lanceolate in shape, 1 to 2 inches long, shiny green Cones are erect, globular, dark brown, and 4 to 7 inches long by 3 to 6 inches wide, scales have long triangular recurved points; developing in 2-3 years and falling off at maturity; seeds are brown to orange, triangular in shape, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, the edible nut is long and narrow with 2 small even wings that are denticulate at the top. 


It is the national tree of Chile. Hardy to zones 7-11.

Seeds are available here: Araucaria araucana

 

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