[narby]

To use a cedar tree to describe or to compare to the tail of hippo is laughable.

It has a shape like a cedar tree.

How would you describe a hippo tail in 7 words?

I can't find the evidence on the net, but I believe I've seen video of mad hippos stick their tail straight up and wave them around.

Looks like a cedar tree to me.

And you're still ignoring the rest of the chapter that obviously describes a hippo.

[JohnnyM]

Behold the cedar-like tail of the mighty hippo!

JM

[frgoff]

It has a shape like a cedar tree.

You're stretching, here. It's obvious the distinguishing characteristic of the Cedar tree is its size, not its shape. The normal inference to anyone painting the analogy would be size.

If I were to say a tail like a Redwood, there's no way you would think I was describing something straight and red with a green tuft at the end. You'd immediately visualize something massive and huge.