In the month of February Stegosaurus was visited in Colorado by his Spanish friend Oblitosuarus.
“Hail, good friend!” said Stegosaurus as he saw Oblitoosaurus arriving. “I am so pleased to see you, stay and visit for a while.”
“I shall, Stegosaurus I shall,” rejoined Oblitosuarus. “I have come to the United States in hopes of seeing you and explaining to you the trees of my native land while we enjoy some trees of your native land.”
“Welcome to America,” said Stegosaurus. “How are things on the Iberian Penninsula?”
“Just fine ." said Oblitosaurus. “This is where we regularly eat Fagus sylvatica I live in a forest full of them.”
“How delightful!” declared Stegosaurus.
“Have you got any forests of that depth here? What kind of trees grow there?” asked Oblitosaurus.
“Oh, we have entire forests of Picea pungens but we don't have as many forests of anything like we used to when I was just out of my shell. I miss the world I grew up in.”
“So do I, Stegosaurus. The age when we dinosaurs ruled the earth.”
“Do tell,” said Stegosaurus “What other kinds of trees grow on the Iberian Penninsula?”
“Other than Fagus sylvatica we have entire forests of Quercus robur which are quite delicious; have you ever had any of them?”
“I think not,” said Stegosaurus. “It looks like I am going to ask my college instructor if we can take my class on a Field Trip to Spain. I do so love to eat exotic species of Oak from time to time.”
“They are quite a treat,” said Oblitosaurus. “If you like other species of Oak you will love Quercus robur.”
“My favorites still remain the trees of my youth, which I first cut my cauliflower shaped teeth on when I was so young, the Cycads and their families. “I've refused to eat the Ginkgo biloba out of respect for the fact that they are even older than I am.”
Oblitosaurs laughed.
“Oh my friend, I find this so amusing! I hope you will forgive me for my laughing but I do respect a dinosaur who holds to his principles.”
“No offense taken my friend, as I am glad to have brought some levity to the situation life is too short not to laugh even if you are 120 to 140 Million and 16, soon to be 17.” said Stegosaurus.
“Now I ask, do tell, what other kind of trees are native to your homeland?”
“Well now, let me see,” thought Oblitosaurus. “We have many types of forests including more Oaks, Birch, Firs, and Beech trees. In the The Mediterranean region we have the quite delicious Quercus pyrenaica, and in that area there are groves of many types of deciduous forests. These lower, wetter areas include the lovely Alnus cordata , Willow, Ash, Elm, and Poplar groves. Entire groves, my friend! Entire groves! You have heard of that new invention, grass, correct?”
“Ah yes, introduced to it by my brother horse. Congresssaurus Triceratops enjoys it, too,” said Stegosaurus.
“We have not yet met, but I admire your friend's taste in grass,” said Oblitosaurus. “We have at certain times of the year grass called in latin Tripidium ravennae and heather. We have in the lowlands a few Ulmus Minor, and the Ulmus glabra, at the elevation of about 1400 metres we have growing Quercus rotundifolia a magnificent specimen of tree. Magnificent. The Balearic Islands contain Cyclamen balearicum which prefers to grow in the shade of evergreens. I am sure you'd enjoy them. They're one of my favorites and I can highly recommend them. Oh, I cannot fail to mention the delicious Juniperus thurifera. There are so many more but I hope this short list entices you to sometime come visit me in Spain. Bring your class, please we will all eat together.”
“I would be delighted,” said Stegosaurus. “Now let me tell you more about the trees native to my Colorado as you have come all this way to learn of them. Now I have already mentioned the delicious Picea pungens, but I think another type of tree you would like to consume would be the Pinus aristata or maybe the Quercus gambelii, given all the Oaks you eat in Spain,” said Stegosaurus. “Here in Colorado we also have the wonderful Acer negundo of which many have heard me praise in the past. There is here the Prunus virginiana …. beware Mammals! don't choke on it! “
“Oh, Stegosaurus, you have a sense of humor for sure,” observed Oblitosaurus.
“Life is too short not to, even if you are over 140 Million Years old,” said Stegosaurus.
“We also have a tree in Colorado favored by Stegosaurus Claus himself, the Pseudotsuga menziesii as the mammals often use it for their Christmas trees, Stegosaurus Claus eats them regularly. I think you will like them too.”
“I will follow the recommendations of my friend Stegosaurus. Any tree good enough for Stegosaurus Claus will be good enough for me,” said Oblitosaurus.
“Your trust in me is admirable, good friend. Let me tell you now about the Picea engelmannii, we have to go to the higher elevations to get this one, so it can get a little cold that high up. It's worth it though. If you stay around for an extended period we could stomp forthrightly to a grove of them I know of well.” said Stegosaurus.
“There certainly are a great number of trees here in Colorado USA as there are in my native Spain” said Oblitosaurus.
“Yes we have a great variety. This is enough talking for now; let us eat and I will gladly tell you more about trees another time. All this talking about trees makes me very hungry!” said Stegosaurus.
“Agreed, my friend, let us dine!” exclaimed Oblitosaurus.
Oblitosaurus did remain a delighted guest at Stegosaurus' cave in Colorado through February, March, and April, eating the trees of Colorado, while Stegosaurus enjoyed showing off his college education by explaining each of the native species to his Spanish friend.
