Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, 51 years later, continues speaking for the trees. But the fictional character came to life through a Wisconsin man with the same love and passion for nature.

Researchers believe Dr. Seuss based The Lorax on the plight of the patas monkeys, a species that depends on the Seussian-looking whistling thorn acacia trees (figure e) for sustenance.

SAN DIEGO - A century-old tree with a long trunk and bushy branches that some believe was the inspiration for fictional Truffula trees in Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" has fallen in a coastal San Diego park.

Courtesy: Wikipedia/Creative Commons) The tree that is believed to have inspired Dr. Seuss' children's book The Lorax has toppled over, as reported by CNN.