OT -Need help identifying tree

Luke

Hot Rolled

Joined

Aug 23, 2003

Location

Nevada,Iowa

• Jun 18, 2007

• #1

I was 12 in '82 and had the privilege of going to the West Indies (Nevis). There was a tree on the island that had small spikes/thorns on it. It was about 12-18" in diameter and that's all remember about it -aside from trying to climb it

My family called it the "Monkey No Climb" tree.

For the last 20 years I've wondered what it was. Does any one here have any clues?


Luke

 

S

SND

Diamond

Joined

Jan 12, 2003

Location

Canada

• Jun 18, 2007

• #2

Only one that comes to mind would be an "olivier de Sibérie" I have no clue what its called in English but they can grow quite big and they grow some pretty good spikes. We had one only about 8 feet tall, I used to hate mowing around it. They are really beautiful trees though. Leafs are a bit of a lighter shade of green.

 

bcstractor

Titanium

Joined

Apr 25, 2004

Location

Monument CO USA

• Jun 18, 2007

• #3

Googling gets to Wikipedia - Sandbox Tree

Chris P

 

crossthread

Titanium

Joined

Aug 5, 2004

Location

Richmond,VA,USA

• Jun 18, 2007

• #4

The American indians called that a scrotum-pole because of the damage it would inflict when you tried to climb it.

 

S

SND

Diamond

Joined

Jan 12, 2003

Location

Canada

• Jun 18, 2007

• #5

Oh wow, that Sandbox tree is even crazier than what we had. Definitely not what I thought it could have been.

 

Luke

Hot Rolled

Joined

Aug 23, 2003

Location

Nevada,Iowa

• Jun 18, 2007

• #6

Thanks for the responses! That Sandbox Tree looks like the winner. Never heard of it before. Anyone ever see what the wood looks like or come across it on the market?

 

L

loganweston

Plastic

Joined

Oct 30, 2006

Location

NE. PA.

• Jun 20, 2007

• #7

I just returned from Honduras and it sounds like a Saba tree the national tree of some central american country

 

macona

Diamond

Joined

Jun 20, 2006

Location

Beaverton, OR

• Jun 20, 2007

• #8

I know which tree you are talking about. They call them Monkey Puzzle Trees around here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana

 

Luke

Hot Rolled

Joined

Aug 23, 2003

Location

Nevada,Iowa

• Jun 21, 2007

• #9

My encounter with the tree was quite memorable. The tree was growing out of the ground at a steep angle- like a pummel horse. My family and I were walking toward the cabin when I had the bright idea (I was 12) to run at that thing and flip over it. After that brief encounter I must of had 12 band aids on each hand!
Cris P gets the winning entry of the Sandbox tree.
A little more googling on trees indigenous to the area brings up that tree as well.

http://www.gotostcroix.com/flora/trees.htm

However I have not been able to find any pictures of the wood or even the wood on the market.

I'd love to back someday, but it I'm sure the island has commercialized.

Luke