🐒 Monkey Puzzle Tree 🌲 “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that.” That’s what a British observer quipped in 1850 when faced with the tree’s unusual, spiky leaves—earning this evergreen its quirky common name. Technically known as the Araucaria araucana, this ancient species hails from the Andes Mountains in Chile and western Argentina. Towering up to 160 feet and living for over 1,000 years, it’s a living relic from the Jurassic era. Sadly, it’s now endangered due to habitat loss from logging, fire, and overgrazing. 🌿 The Hofstra University Arboretum, home to more than 12,000 trees and shrubs, celebrates biodiversity. That includes the rare and remarkable Monkey Puzzle Tree, thriving right here in New York’s climate. 🦁 Hofstra’s new brand is more than a logo, it’s a whole new way to see the University! The glyphs of iconic campus locations illustrate what makes us uniquely Hofstra. 💙 • • • #HofstraU #MonkeyPuzzleTree #AraucariaAraucana #Arboretum