Article: Giant cones expected to fall from exotic trees.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Incoming!

Giant, spiky 20-pound seed pods the size of bowling balls could soon be dropping from two towering Monkey Puzzle trees at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. The trees were roped off Thursday to keep unsuspecting strollers from being bonked on the head by the cones.

So far, the trees have produced just one of the prodigious pulpy pods _ but it would only take one of these babies "to ruin your whole day," said Steve Hack, museum manager.

The pod crash landed on Thursday and after being photographed and gawked at, disappeared sometime Thursday night.

"We thought we'd put it in a safe spot, but ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!