Monkey puzzle tree

[jmc_bks]

Today's Spanish word of the day just tickles my fancy: araucaria, noun, monkey puzzle tree. According to Dictionary.com,

The araucaria araucana or monkey puzzle tree is a fascinating tree. The national tree of Chile, it was beloved of Victorian gardeners and can be seen in many parks and gardens. Its English name has no connection with its original habitat, since no monkeys live within range. The name stuck after someone said ‘It would puzzle a monkey to climb that.’

Its Spanish name, araucaria, derives from the name the Spaniards gave to the indigenous inhabitants of Chile, araucanos. The current term for these indigenous peoples is mapuche.