What is the other name of Chile pine tree?

monkey puzzle tree, (Araucaria araucana), also called Chile pine, an evergreen ornamental and timber conifer of the family Araucariaceae, native to the Andes Mountains of South America.

Why do they call it a monkey puzzle tree?

Jay. The common name of ‘monkey puzzle’ was coined during the mid-1800s when Charles Austin, a noted barrister, on seeing the tree for the first time commented that climbing the spiny, spiralling branches would be a puzzle even for a monkey.

Are Monkey Puzzle trees poisonous to humans?

‘The tree’s needles are not that dangerous – comparing them to syringes is ridiculous. ‘The tree is part of the local landscape and has been for a century and a half. It rarely sheds its foliage and there are plenty of volunteers here who would be happy to clear up the needles. ‘

Why is the monkey puzzle tree endangered?

In 2013, the species was upgraded to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because the species populations are small and fragmented, meaning populations are vulnerable to persisting threats of grazing, logging and fire.

How old is the monkey puzzle tree?

200 million years ago
The tree was alive 200 million years ago and rubbed shoulders with the dinosaurs. Its spine-like needles acted as protection from ancient grazing animals now long extinct. It can live for 1,000 years and grows to 50m high with a trunk diameter of over 3m. Its large seeds, pinones, take two years to mature.

Are Monkey Puzzle trees protected?

Monkey puzzle trees were introduced to England in the Victorian era. It is illegal to cut down the trees in Chile because after heavy logging, the species has been categorised as ‘endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Global Red List.

Are Monkey Puzzle trees valuable?

Occasional blanks are available from downed ornamental trees planted outside its natural range. Expect prices to be moderately high for a domestic softwood.

Can you cut down a monkey puzzle tree?

Late winter to early spring is the best time for monkey puzzle tree pruning. Damaged branches are best removed in early spring, although anything hazardous should be removed immediately it is detected. Spring is a good time to identify and deal with any winter related issues.

Are Monkey Puzzle trees unlucky?

Superstitions about the Monkey Puzzle tree can be found throughout Britain. One widely-shared bit of folklore is that the Devil himself sits in this tree and people have to be quiet when walking past or else they will attract the Devil’s attention and get bad luck. In some cases this was to be bad luck for three years.