Trunks, Branches and Leaves Quiz

Answer: Australia

The golden wattle is native to south-eastern Australia. It normally grows to a height of 8 meters and instead of true leaves it has flattened leaf stalks. The golden flowers appear in late winter and spring. The Australian coat of arms includes a wreath of wattle and the green and gold colours of Australian sporting teams represents the wattle.

Answer: Canada

Not only is the maple tree the national tree of Canada, but a stylized maple leaf is incorporated on the Canadian flag. The maple leaf also appears on the Arms of Canada. The maple leaf has been a symbol in Canada since the early 18th century.

Answer: Chile

The Araucaria araucana or better known as the monkey puzzle tree is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. The English name came about when the tree was being cultivated in Britain around 1850. Someone remarked that "it would puzzle a monkey to climb that".

Hence the name stuck. The tree is a Chilean pine, an evergreen tree that reaches 30-40 metres in height with the leaves being thick and scale-like. It is the national tree of Chile.

Answer: Germany

The oak tree has stood as a Germanic symbol since the early nineteenth century. Oak branches were displayed on some German coins when the national currency were Deutsche Marks and more recently on some German-issue Euro coins. The oak tree is a symbol of strength and stability in Germany. The oak tree is also the national tree in Romania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland and USA.

Answer: South Africa

The real yellowwood tree is protected and is the national tree of South Africa. It can stand as high as 35 metres with a 3-metre trunk diameter. It is an evergreen tree in the conifer family.

Answer: Philippines

The narra is a deciduous tree, meaning that it will lose all of its leaves for part of the year. It grows to a height of 30-40 meters with a trunk up to 2 meters in diameter. The tree is found in many countries and islands in southeast Asia. In the Philippines the sturdy wood is used for construction and furniture purposes, however, a permit is required to cut the tree.

Answer: Finland

The silver birch was chosen in 1988 as Finland's national tree. In Finland's forests it is considered to be the country's most beautiful tree. Over many centuries the Finns have used the tree for timber and using the sap as a mineral rich drink. The bark for roofing, shoes and baskets with the leaves being used for a sauna massage.

Answer: Greece

In ancient Greece they used olive oil from the fruit of the tree to anoint kings and athletes. It was also smeared over the body and hair for grooming and good health. An olive tree in west Athens was estimated to be 2,400 years old when it was uprooted by a bus in a traffic accident in 1975.

The trunk is now displayed in the Agricultural University of Athens. The oldest existing olive tree is in Croatia and is estimated to be 1,600 years old which still bears fruit. The olive tree is also the national tree of Italy, Albania, Palestine and Israel.

Answer: Japan

In Japan, the cherry blossom symbolizes many things including the traditional art of Japanese tattoos, the forming of clouds when they bloom en masse and are utilized in Japanese art, songs and films. During WWII, the cherry blossom was used to stoke up nationalism and bravery. The falling cherry petals came to symbolize the sacrifices of the young in battle.

Answer: Jamaica

The blue mahoe tree is the national tree of Jamaica. The tree often reaches 20 meters in height and has a straight trunk, is a flowering tree with broad green leaves. The wood is hardy and used in furniture making, bowls, picture frames and wood carvings. The tree is also native to Cuba and the inner bark was once known as Cuba bark as it was used to tie bundles of Cuban cigars.