Araucaria araucana (Monkey-puzzle Tree)

Araucaria araucana

Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch

Araucaria imbricata Pav.

Monkey-puzzle Tree

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Coniferophyta	Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs)
Class	Pinopsida	Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews
Order	Pinales	Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others
Family	Araucariaceae	Araucarian family
Genus	Araucaria	Named for the South Chilean province of Arauco
Species	araucana

About plant names...

The monkey-puzzle tree is native to south central Chile and west central Argentina. In these locations it is found in the Andes Mountains, usually above 3281' (1 km). It is not found in the wild in North America. It is named because the shape and curl of the branches resemble monkey’s tails.

Identification: Trees are evergreens, 98-131' (30-40 m) tall and 3-5' (1-1.5 m) around, and conical in shape. Bark is gray-brown, with rings left from older leaves. Branches form whorls of five, emerging almost horizontally from the trunk. Leaves are scale-like, with sharp tips. They cover every branch and even the trunk. Leaves are 1-1¾" (3-5 cm) long and ¼-⅞" (8-25 mm) wide. Male cones are yellowish-brown, 2½-6" (7-15 cm) long × 1¾" (5 cm) wide. Female cones are round, dark brown, 4-7" (10-18 cm) long × 3-6" (8-15 cm) wide. The individual scales of both cones have narrow, sharp tips. Don’t confuse this with the related and similar-appearing Norfolk pine.

Online References:

Araucaria araucana on The Gymnosperm Database

Araucaria araucana on floridata.com

Araucaria araucana on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants