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 ...

In the not-so-distant past of The Lorax, outside the walled city of Thneedville, there were once lush forests of Truffula trees as far as the eye could see. Now, there is a barren wasteland.

Dr. Seuss’ Lorax tree, photo via Sherry V. Smith/Getty A resident of La Jolla for more than four decades, Dr. Seuss modeled his colorful Lorax Truffula trees on the fallen cypress.

The Lorax speaks for the trees and tries his best to stop the Once-ler. The story is 47 years old now – not that many years older than my daddy, who took me to see it.

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.