Monkey puzzle tree, also known as the Chile pine, is a large evergreen tree with sharp, scaly leaves. These leaves densely cover the tree’s spreading or drooping branches, which have a snakelike appearance. The monkey puzzle received its name because its leaves would make it difficult for even monkeys to climb.
Monkey puzzle trees may grow to 140 feet (43 meters) in height. They reproduce by means of cones. Male and female cones usually grow on separate trees. The male cones are long and slender, and the female cones are round or egg-shaped.
The monkey puzzle tree is native to the Andes Mountains in Chile and southwestern Argentina. People cultivate the tree in Europe and in the United States, especially the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast. The tree provides valuable timber and edible seeds, called pinones or Chile nuts.
See also Conifer.
