Araucaria auracana - Monkey Puzzle Tree

Araucaria araucana: Genus and species named for Arauco Indians of Chile and Argentina, who have natural forests of this tree and harvest the seeds for food.

Curious looking tree similar to A. bidwillii.
Awl-shaped leaves 1-2" long, dark green, whorled around the branch.
Trees are dioecious -- male and female cones appear on separate trees.
4-7" female cones are solitary at the ends of branchs and take 2-3 years to ripen.
Bark is reddish to grey-brown with shallow seams and rings from old branch scars.
Trunk appears wrinkley with age.
This is the most hardy of the araucarias. They are also drought tolerant and disease resistant.

Chorisa speciosa - Silk Floss Tree

Chorisa speciosa: Chorisa named for Ludwig Choris, a botanical artist 1795-1828; speciosa, meaning 'showy'.

The common Spanish name for this tree translates as 'drunken tree' for the trunk's resemblance to a wine barrel.

Moderately fast growing mid-sized tree, common in the Southern California landscape.
Palmately compound leaves with 3-5" leaflets.
Deep pink to burgundy large (up to 8" x 5") flowers in fall. Flowers resembled a narrow-petaled Hibiscus.
Fruit is a woody pear-shaped capsule 6-12" in spring
Tapered greenish trunk with thorns is enlarged and heavy at the base.

Jacaranda mimosifolia - Jacaranda

Schinus molle - California Pepper Tree

Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian Pepper Tree