🚀 go-pugleaf

In Article Re: Where can I buy a monkey puzzle tree?,
Natalie McNair-Huff <nitcha@wolfenet.com> wrote:
> Sorry, I know this isn't an answer, but does anyone know where the common
> name for this tree came from?
> Just Curious.

Natalie - 

This comes up frequently in these discussions, and I know I wrote about it
once before (but I can't find it to repost).

As I understand it, in their native Chile, young monkeys find it easy to
climb up these trees, using the stiff, sharp pointed, scales-like leaves
as foot-holds.  Going down is a different matter with all of those scales
not point AT you!!  So it is apparently not uncommon to see the poor
creature sitting in the tree trying to 'puzzle' it out.  More mature
monkeys know to jump into a neighboring tree (of a different species) in
order to climb down.
 
> In article <841780688.21402@dejanews.com>, Toxophilus@aol.com wrote:
> > Does anybody know where I can buy a monkey puzzle tree 
> > (Araucaria araucana) by mail order in the USA?
> > 
> > [Preferably a small one].
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Steve Moss

Steve - 

Araucaria araucana, the Mokey Puzzle Tree, can be purchased from:

   FORESTFARM
   990 Tetherow Road, Williams, OR 97544-9599
   (503)846-7269 [9am-3pm PST]
   Ray and Peg Prag, owners. Extensive catalog $3; woody plants, ferns,
   grasses, perennials.  They do ship to Calif. & Canada observing
   required restrictions.  Canadians:  when they send a catalog, they
   provide special instructions.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    http://www.dla.ucop.edu/~sao
 Oakland, California  94610-1459    h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 (510) 987-0577                     'a garden suited to its purpose'
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