Perfect skytrain-spotting locationDirections
Once you pass and savour the Elm trees on both sides of 6th you will reach Woodland Dr. Here you can take a seat on the benches usefully located at the end for avid sky train spotters (the tracks above to your left!). Once rested turn right and walk north along Woodland Dr for a couple of blocks before turning right into 4th Ave. This road is home to our next two featured trees. The first of which is located a few metres up on the right. Our next featured tree: The Monkey Tree or in this case a pair of Monkeys!
A pair of Monkeys
Monkey Puzzle Tree
Proper Name: Araucaria Araucana
Common Name: Monkey Puzzle Tree, Chilean Pine
Description: An evergreen tree with an upward arching symmetrical branching patten. The thick leathery leaves that are almost triangular in shape and have sharp ends fully cover the branches. The male and female trees each have different shaped cones.
Defining Feature: Such a distinctive tree it’s hard to pick. Their shape makes them stand out from the crowd but take a good look at the leaves, they are unlike any other you’ll find in Vancouver (see below).
Architecturally perfect leaves.
Araucaria Araucana is quite a mouthful. But it’s comforting to know that if you learn the genus name (Araucaria) the species epithet (araucana) will be on the tip of your tongue. They both derive from the same thing – the native Araucanians who used the seeds of the tree in Chile, where it was first found. Hence its other common name – Chilean Pine.