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Tree & Leaf Challenges

-London

Monkey puzzle

______________________________________________________________________________ Copyright Debbie Smyth, 16 June 2019Part of Sunday Trees

California

Spiky Leaves of the Joshua Tree

As its latin name, Yucca brevifolia, shows, the Joshua Tree is really a Yucca plant, but its tree-like stature gives it its common names of Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree […]

-Botswana

Stumped!

Last week I was puzzled, this week I’m completely stumped! The wildlife in Africa, especially elephants, cause a lot of damage to the trees and bushes. It all adds to […]

Tree & Leaf Challenges

Puzzled?

This tree has unusual leathery, spiky leaves that are arranged in spirals around the branches and trunk. It is the Araucaria araucana, or Chile Pine, commonly known as the Monkey Puzzle – […]

-London

Indian Conkers

This is the Indian Horse Chestnut, clearly distinguishable by its thin, smooth-skinned conker cases.   Best avoided if you’re planning a conker fight. And don’t be tempted to eat them […]

-London

WANTED – Giant Custard!

I adore rhubarb and custard. You would certainly need a giant portion of the yellow stuff to go with this Giant Rhubarb (Gunnera manicata).  The leaves can be as much as […]

-Paris

Fig Leaves

In the  heart of Paris’ Marais district, stands this marvellous fig tree.  Strangely, I had never stopped to think where or how the famous fig leaf of Biblical days grew. […]