Araucaria araucana Monkey-puzzle

The Monkey-puzzle Tree, Araucaria araucana, has an architectural form that is instantly recognisable and familiar to most people. It is derived from an ancient line of trees that once populated the northern and southern hemispheres. But today it has a paleoendemic distribution, native and restricted to Chile and western Argentina where it forms dramatic, open forests on the slopes of the Andes. The remarkable, relatively broad, leathery needles are sharply pointed which might deter many herbivores. Its association with monkeys is spurious, since none occur native within the endemic range of the tree and the name apparently refers to the illusion of a monkey climbing the tree. Monkey-puzzle trees are mostly dioecious, so an individual is either a male or a female. Female trees produce distinctive upright cones. Another interesting feature of the species is the ability to sprout new shoots from cut stumps, or felled trees, a property that is rare in conifers. It is also able to sucker from underground roots. It was first introduced to Britain in 1795 and it has been planted widely throughout the country in parks and gardens. It is widespread in West Glamorgan, often seen in small gardens, but it rarely if ever regenerates or naturalises in the county. However, when male and female trees are within favourable pollen dispersal distances, seed may be produced and regenerating saplings have been recorded elsewhere in Wales.