Monkey Puzzle

Description:

An evergreen tree native to central, south Chile and Argentina. It's the national tree of Chile and often described as a living fossil. It's usually dioecious, with the male and female cones on separate trees. First photo shows the spiky 'leaves', second photo shows the female cone. The last 3 photos are of monkey puzzle forests, the last a pure stand in Huerquehue National Park.

Habitat:

southern temperate forest, lower slopes of the Andes, above 1000m

Notes:

To see a monkey puzzle forest was one of my main reasons to visit Chile. I saw them in Nahuelbuta National Park and Huerquehue National Park. I wasn't disappointed, the forests are amazing and unique. The seeds are also exceptionally tasty.