MONKEY PUZZLE TREE `Araucaria Araucana`- 5 seeds

Scientific name: Araucaria araucana

Evergreen. Bark resinous and generally branching in fives. Leaves spiky, stiff, leathery and rounded-triangle-shaped, arranged spirally around trunk and branches.  Pollinated by wind.

In Chile the tree is called the Pehuén and is sacred to the local Pehuenche people: its seeds are an ancient staple of their diet.  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.  Will tolerate almost any soil type providing it drains well. 

Biflavanoid, diterpene, phenyl propanoid and lignans are abundant in the genus. The most common pharmacological activity of Araucaria in modern medicines is anti-inflammatory. It also possesses other pharmacological activities such as antiulcer, antiviral, neuro-protective, anti-depressant and anti-coagulant