[College of ACES] [University of Illinois] [Illinois CES]

Re: Monkey Puzzle Tree info.

schrader@beaches.net
Thu, 7 Nov 1996 00:44:07 -0600

You comment raised some Question. Monkey puzzle is the common name used
here locally. After having looked through some manuals I am certain those
here in the Florida Panhandle are not the true Monkey puzzle ARAUCARIA
auracana (imbricata) as seedling, "Hardy Monkey Puzzle" in ( Mts. of So.
Chile, No. Patagonia ), shown and described in Exotica, series 4, volume 1.
Pictures look right page 346 but description, vol. 2 page 2177, lacks a
noteworthy gray stripe running longitudinally along midrib. By the way
ARAUCARIA exists in 12 very different varieties. The mention of large
female cones resembling pineapples occurred in ARAUCARIA bidwillii in
Queensland, known as "Bunya-Bunya" or "Monkey Puzzle".

I can't seem to comfortably pin this one down. When I first moved here in
"92 at a glance I thought it was foolishly a juvenile Sequoia. The stripe
is however distinct and pronounced. The Florida Torreya "stinking cedar"
Terreya taxifolia Arn. appears to be the closest I've come as it matches
the leaf descriptions, Distribution is supposed to be limited and doesn't
include Bay County but we are close. Their occurrence is irregular at best
and none appear to be very old maybe 25 or 30 years Maybe 50 best. I
suppose I will have to check for cones as I am sure that will settle it.

George Schrader ISA SO-0448 schrader@beaches.net
American Tree
1309 W. 10th St.
Panama City, Fl. 32401-1901
Home & Business Tel: 904 769 4060
Cel. 904 832 0274 Pager 1 800 849 6162

in response----------
> From: oscai@voicenet.com
> To: schrader@beaches.net
> Subject: Monkey Puzzle Tree info.
> Date: Wednesday, November 06, 1996 9:52 AM