Monkey Business

We saw these new cones in Dawyck this afternoon before taking refreshment in the excellent cafe.

The Monkey Puzzle is dioecious, producing cones on female trees only. The seeds are edible raw or cooked, almond-sized, the soft texture of cashew nuts and taste like pine nuts. They have the potential to be a valuable food source as a plantation of 18 good-sized trees could sustain an adult for a year.