(species Araucaria araucana), an evergreen ornamental and timber conifer of the family Araucariaceae, native to the Andes mountains of South America. The monkey puzzle tree may grow to a height of 45 m (150 feet), with a diameter of 1.5 m. The rigid, overlapping, needle-pointed leaves are spirally arranged on stiff branches, which form a tangled, prickly network that discourages animals from attempting to climb the tree.