Désespoir des Singes
Simian•Jun 20, 2026 — Sep 13, 2026
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Désespoir des singes is a species of indigenous Chilean tree, locally known as the Pehuén, which is sacred to the Pehuenche people, who have long relied on its seeds as a staple food. The tree is believed to have acquired its common name—the monkey puzzle tree, or in French, Désespoir des singes, meaning “The monkeys’ despair”—in the nineteenth century, when one was being planted at Pencarrow, a Cornish estate. According to the story, a guest touched one of its sharp branches and remarked: “Climbing it would be a puzzle even for a monkey”.
Dating back approximately 200 million years, the monkey puzzle tree is among the oldest living species on Earth, having coexisted with the dinosaurs. Its distinctive, spine-like leaves are thought to have evolved as protection against prehistoric grazing animals that have long since disappeared. In the wild, monkey puzzle trees grow on the slopes of volcanoes and high mountain ranges. Their thick bark is remarkably fire-resistant, allowing entire…
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Désespoir des Singes
Simian•Jun 20, 2026 — Sep 13, 2026
Press Release
Désespoir des singes is a species of indigenous Chilean tree, locally known as the Pehuén, which is sacred to the Pehuenche people, who have long relied on its seeds as a staple food. The tree is believed to have acquired its common name—the monkey puzzle tree, or in French, Désespoir des singes, meaning “The monkeys’ despair”—in the nineteenth century, when one was being planted at Pencarrow, a Cornish estate. According to the story, a guest touched one of its sharp branches and remarked: “Climbing it would be a puzzle even for a monkey”.
Dating back approximately 200 million years, the monkey puzzle tree is among the oldest living species on Earth, having coexisted with the dinosaurs. Its distinctive, spine-like leaves are thought to have evolved as protection against prehistoric grazing animals that have long since disappeared. In the wild, monkey puzzle trees grow on the slopes of volcanoes and high mountain ranges. Their thick bark is remarkably fire-resistant, allowing entire…
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