The Columbian Exchange was the process by which animals and plants were traded between the Old and New Worlds (the Americas) by European colonial powers. The best-known products to have made the trip were food-related, but decorative plants, although often overlooked, have been a crucial element in the legacy of this exchange. Some became invasive species in their new continents, while others, such as the ahuehete in the Buen Retiro Park of Madrid, have managed to become as beloved and appreciated. Taxodium mucronatum is the scientific name of the tree,…
