Amazing Tree Facts

Trees. They provide shade during the summer. Amazing bursts in autumn colour. The stark beauty and strength of bark against a grey winter sky. The hope of rebirth when green leaf shoots spring from seemingly nowhere in spring. Trees are more than just beautiful to behold.

They are essential to life’s existence. Trees are amazing because they produce oxygen and carbon dioxide, provide a habitat for wildlife and timber for endless possibilities. All living beings, big and small, need plants to live in their environment.

Trees are very important. It is difficult to overstate their importance. More than a 300million years ago, their appearance marked a major turning point in Earth’s history. They helped transform the planet into a bustling paradise for animals. Over the years, trees have provided shelter, food, and care for many creatures, including our ancestors. Although humans rarely live in trees, it doesn’t mean that we cannot survive without them.

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There are currently nearly 3 trillion trees, transforming habitats from old-growth forests into urban streets. We tend to take trees for granted despite their deep-rooted dependency.

Amazing Tree Facts

Humans’ forests are cleared each year, mostly to reap short-term benefits, despite the long-term dangers like wildlife declines and desertification, as well as climate change. Although science has made it easier to understand the tree’s resources and protect fragile forests more efficiently, there is still much to be done.

Nearly 46% fewer trees are found today than they did 12,000 years ago when agriculture was just beginning. Trees have been proven to increase happiness, calmness, innovation, and property valuation. Many religions have deep symbolic connections to trees, and many cultures worldwide have long appreciated the benefits of a walk through the forest.

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Do you know about trees?

There are many surprising facts about trees that you may not have known about.

Trees can be male or female. They can talk to one another and experience stress. Trees can become very thirsty. You may be surprised at how many amazing facts you do not know about trees. We at Nelda will tell you more about trees with the help of this article. This article will reveal interesting facts about trees you may not have known.

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1. There are more than 80,000 species of edible plants on Earth.
2. Trees combat wrongdoing
   It sounds weird, we know! It has been proven that violence is more common in homes and suburbs with less greenery than those with lusher landscapes. Research shows that urban trees correlate with lower crime rates, including graffiti and vandalism.
3. Nearly 20 million trees will provide 260 million tons more oxygen to the Earth and its inhabitants. The same 20 million trees can also be used to remove 10 million tons of CO2.
4. Tree limbs are not perfectly round. They have a compression (upper side) and tension (lower side), which allows them to support their weight and the weight of the fruits, leaves, or nuts suspended in mid-air.
5. The phanerogams tree are those that reproduce from seeds. Therefore, they have specialized visible organs for reproduction, such as flowers.
6. The bark of shaded trees is usually thin; the bark of sunny trees is thicker.
7. Trees can communicate with each other and protect themselves from insects. Scientists discovered that trees could flood their foliage with chemicals called phenolics, which are used to repel insects. They can also warn other trees of danger so that they can defend themselves.
8. The root system absorbs nutrients and water and carries them via connective tissue to the leaf. The roots are then transferred sugar through the connective tissues to the leaves.
9. The oldest tree in the world is thought to be a bristlecone pine tree called Methuselah. Its exact location was kept secret to protect it against vandals and tourists.
10. Patients who have a view of fresh green trees in their rooms at the hospital are said to heal quicker and spend less time there than patients without. Patients who have a view of trees spend 8 per cent less time in hospital.
11. Shopping districts that have trees tend to attract more customers. People are more willing to spend more on items bought in shopping districts with trees. These same shoppers say that they will stay longer and judge the quality of the stores and products in the shopping district with trees.
12. Utah, USA, is home to the oldest known clonal tree cluster. A group of quaking aspens called Pando has been identified by DNA testing. They are approximately 80,000 years old. It is estimated to weigh over 6,000 tonnes, making it both the oldest and heaviest living thing in the world.
13. Out of sight, out of mind
    Trees can hide ugly views, from concrete walls to parking lots. They provide a pleasant green environment and muffle noises from nearby streets and highways.
14. It is believed that a tree planted in India in 288 BC was propagated from Buddha’s original fig tree. The tree, Ficus Religiosa, is aptly named. It is one of the most sacred trees anywhere in the world.
15. One year, a massive oak tree can drop almost 10,000 acorns.
    Oak trees’ nuts are a popular source of wildlife. Acorns are a major food source for over 100 vertebrate species in the US. However, all that attention means that they never germinate. Oak trees can experience boom and bust cycles as a way to outfox the acorn-eating creatures.
    A single oak can drop up to 10,000 nuts during the acorn boom (also known as the mast-year). While most of them end up as food for birds and mammals, occasionally, a lucky acorn will be able to start a journey that will take it hundreds of miles into the sky and the future.
16. Trees increase water quality by filtering and slowing down rainwater and protecting watersheds and aquifers.
17. Banana trees don’t have any wood
    The plants that produce bananas are called trees, even though they lack a wood trunk. They have a fibrous, watery main stem supported by internal water pressure. The banana ‘trees’ are herbaceous plants with no above-ground, woody stem. Given the appearance of banana fruits, it is quite ironic that there is no wood.
18. Some trees produce chemicals that lure enemies to their homes
    Although they may seem helpless and passive, trees are far more intelligent than they appear. They can produce chemical substances to combat leaf-eating insects and send each other airborne chemical signals, which may warn nearby trees to be ready for an attack. Research shows that many trees and plants are more resistant to insect attacks after receiving these signals.
    The signals that trees emit from their air can be used to communicate information beyond the plant kingdom. They can attract predators and parasites to kill the insects. This allows trees to call for help when they are in distress. Apple trees that are under attack by caterpillars release chemicals to attract the caterpillar-eating birds.
19. Babies born in areas with more trees are less likely to be underweight.
20. According to botanical definitions, palms aren’t trees but large, woody herbs.
21. Trees store food in the form of carbohydrates in their woody roots. The stability of trees is ensured by the oblong growth pattern of woody roots. They also produce a hormone that affects above-ground growth.
22. Each year, nearly 16 billion trees are destroyed by forest management, deforestation and other variations in land use.
23. Different parts of a tree will grow at different times during the year. The spring is the most important time for the growth of leaves. In the summer, trunk growth occurs, and root growth occurs in fall and winter.
24. “Knock on wood” is a pagan saying that teaches us to knock on wood. It comes from ancient pagan rituals, where good spirits were believed to reside within trees.
25. Storm Season
    Storm season can be dangerous for not properly maintained and overgrown trees. However, well-tended and healthy trees will intercept stormwater and slow it down. This reduces the chance of flooding and erosion. You should not take refuge under a tree in a storm. Because trees are negatively charged, and lightning is positively charged, they can be struck. Electricity always follows the path of least resistance, meaning that the highest object struck by electricity will be the first to get it.
26. According to some, the only tree that can grow in cement is the ailanthus altissimo or tree of heaven.
27. Trees can share food
    Mycorrhizal mushrooms, which live in the roots of trees, form a symbiotic partnership—these fungi aid trees in absorbing more water and minerals from the soil. They give sugar molecules to fungi, which are derived through photosynthesis.
28. The average tree in the city has an 8-year life expectancy.
29. Trees migrate to escape climate change
    Although trees cannot move or uproot themselves, their population centres can change due to climate changes.
30. One tree can absorb twice as much carbon each year as a car driving 26,000 miles.
31. Trees consume plenty of water
    A tree can consume up to 2000 litres annually. One large tree can easily drink 100 gallons from the ground.
32. Manchineel, a native to Florida, is the most poisonous tree on the planet. Its fruit can cause death if eaten. Standing under a tree in a storm can cause blisters, and smoke from a burning tree may blind someone.
33. Many drugs are made from trees.
    The bark of a Willow tree can be used to make aspirin; the Yew tree can be used to make Taxol.
34. Sarah Barnes, a Florida meth addict, accidentally set fire to the world’s fifth-oldest tree in 2012 when she tried smoking in its hollow. The tree, named Senator, was almost 3,500 years old.
35. Spider Trees
    Australia is known for its large number of spider species. However, in 2010, floods in Pakistan caused massive flooding. This led to millions of spiders climbing up the trees to escape rising waters. The spider web covered the trees after the floodwaters receded. The trees were able to serve a useful purpose, reducing the mosquito population after the floods.
36. Children who live in areas with more trees are less likely to develop asthma.
37. According to legend, the Ficus religiosa or sacred fig is the only tree that can rustle its leaves even when the air is still.
38. Trees don’t grow beyond their ability to sustain themselves. They cut branches, flowers, and/or fruit during times of stress.
39. Six of the seven continents are home to pine trees, with Antarctica the only exception.
40. The sandbox tree has explosive fruits, toxic sap and is covered with spikes. It is also known as the “Dynamite Tree” because its fruit explodes when it is ripe and sends hardened seeds out over 60 feet at 150 miles an hour.
41. Christmas trees are a result of ancient traditions
    The Renaissance of early modern Germany saw the first Christmas holiday when evergreen conifer tree decorating was done in homes. Many European officials and nobles adopted the tradition and made it popular in the 1800s. This tradition, however, is older than modern Christianity. It dates back to medieval Europe when Europeans valued plants that survived winters when all else died. Before becoming an emblem for Christmas, evergreen boroughs were used to protect homes from ghosts, witches and goblins.
42. Trees need air to survive.
    The air plays an important role in the growth of trees. Trees absorb nearly 90% of the nutrition in the air. Only 10% of the tree’s nutrition comes from the soil.
43. Bamboo is not a tree
    Bamboo is the largest member of the grass family. Bamboo stalks are hollow and can be considered grass because of the vascular tissue scattered around them. This tissue, along with the bamboo trunk’s rigid, cylindrical growth pattern, qualifies it as grass. Bamboo forests could theoretically be considered fields of giant grass.
44. A large oak tree can drink as much as 100 gallons per day, and a giant sequoia up to 500 gallons each day.
    Many mature trees require a lot of water. This can be dangerous for drought-stricken orchards, but it is usually good for humans. Flooding from heavy rain can be controlled by thirsty trees, particularly in low-lying areas such as river plains. Trees can reduce flash flooding by helping to absorb water more effectively and holding the soil together with roots.
    For example, a single oak can transpire more water than 40,000 gallons per year. This is how much water flows from its roots to the leaves, releasing water as vapour into the atmosphere. Although the rate of transpiration is variable throughout the year, an average of 40,000 gallons per day will result in a total of 109 gallons. Massive trees can move more water than smaller ones: A 300-foot tall sequoia tree can transpire almost 500 gallons per day. Large forests can also make it rain because they emit water vapour.
    Trees can absorb soil pollutants as well. Sugar maple can remove 60 mg of cadmium, 140m of chromium and 5,200 mg of lead per year. Research has also shown that farm runoff contains as much as 88% less nitrate after it flows through a forest.
45. Trees produce coffee and chocolate
    While we know trees provide us with fleshy fruits such as oranges, plums and pears, they also play a role in our snacking habits. Everyone loves their coffee and chocolate. The base ingredients for chocolate are the fruits of the cacao tree. The berry of the coffee tree is used to extract coffee beans. We also have access to some of our favourite edible nuts, such as walnuts, pine nuts and hazels.
46. Higher tree number areas are more likely to have fewer cardio-metabolic problems and a lower risk of dying from pulmonary or cardiovascular disease.
47. Fungus helps trees grow.
48. Dendrochronology is a method of dating a tree through its rings. It is interesting to note that a tree’s rings can reveal more than its age. They can also indicate natural disasters like drought or volcanic eruption.
49. Joshua tree is a Biblical name
    These plants were named after a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave in the mid-19th century. They were inspired by Joshua’s prayer gesture in which he raises his arms to the heavens by the shape of the tree branches.
50. Trees increase the property’s value. Tree-lined houses sell 18-25% more than houses without trees.
51. There are two genders of pinecones. Pinecones have two genders: male pinecones produce pollen, and female pinecones bear seeds. The wind blows pollen into female pinecones, and the seeds are pollinated.
52. The majority of tree roots are found in the top 18 inches, but they can grow up to a few hundred yards below ground.
    Taproots are rare in trees. Tree roots tend to grow in the top 18 inches of the soil. This is where the best growing conditions exist. More than half the roots of trees grow in the top six inches of soil. However, this lack of depth is compensated by lateral growth. For example, the root system of mature oak can stretch hundreds of miles.
    The soil, climate, and species of tree roots can have a wide range of characteristics. The Bald Cypress is a tree that grows in swamps and rivers. Some of its roots have exposed ‘knees,’ which supply air to the roots below like a snorkel. The stilt roots of mangrove trees also have similar breathing tubes called pneumatophores. They can filter as much as 90% of saltwater from seawater.
    However, some trees can reach incredible depths underground. Some trees, such as oak, pine, hickory and walnut, are more likely to develop a taproot, especially in sandy, well-draining soils. Under ideal conditions, trees can reach depths of 20 feet (6 meters) below the surface. A wild fig from South Africa’s Echo Caves reportedly reached a record-breaking root depth of 400 feet.
53. Skin Cancer Shield
    In most countries, skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer. Trees can reduce harmful UV exposure by as much as 50%. It is important to plant trees in areas where children spend hours outside, such as playgrounds or school campuses.
54. If you are lost in the forest, trees can help you find your way back. Northern temperate climates have moss growing on the north side of the tree trunk. This is because there is more shade. A tree’s rings may also help you find the right way. The Northern Hemisphere has thicker rings because it gets more sunlight. The Southern Hemisphere has rings that are thicker than the Northern.
55. Trees don’t heal themselves when damaged, like other living organisms. A tree that is injured builds a wall around the area to stop the spread of disease or decay. The stems have specialized tissues that allow them to translocate stored energy into an area that needs compartmentalization. This allows the area to be locked down after being damaged or attacked by an insect or disease. This is why woody plants live so long. Because plants don’t have the luxury to move, they must adapt to their surroundings or die.
56. Large, broad leaves are characteristic of trees that grow in humid environments or near large water bodies. Trees grown in dry areas have smaller, harder leaves, which reduce water loss.
57. The tree’s living parts are its roots, leaves and vascular system. This conductive tissue is also known as phloem or xylem. It is a thin layer beneath the bark that provides nutrients and sugars. The tissue we call “wood” is dead cells, which serve as support structures.
58. Air conditioning can be cut by up to 50% if three trees are planted in the right place.
59. The presence of trees in a landscape can lower our heart rate, reduce stress and relax us.
60. Cottonwood seeds can remain airborne for up to seven days. This is longer than any other kind of seed.
61. In Hawaii, Eucalyptus trees have natural rainbow-coloured barks.
62. Fungi are responsible for the establishment of the tree network
    All plants can share nutrients in a network underground that is cultured. Depending on their needs, fungi are responsible for moving water, carbon and other nutrients between the trees via this network.
63. Justin Timberlake started a business to calculate his concerts’ carbon footprints. He pays for trees to be planted in these cities to offset the carbon impact on his tours.
64. Ebony is the darkest wood on Earth.
65. Osage Orangewood is the species that produces the most heat when it’s burned.
66. Olive trees can withstand fire, drought, and disease. Some olive groves maybe thousands of years old.
67. Trees can tell if deer want to eat them. Trees can sense deer saliva and create excess acids to make their buds taste bitter about deterring them.
    Mother Nature is both a gift and a responsibility. We must treat her with love, respect and care. Her kindness is unending, and her anger when she feels neglected or mistreated is not. It is our responsibility to protect and give back the gifts that nature has given us.
68. Nelda Foundation knows that everyone has a responsibility for the environment. We are all global citizens and must fulfil this responsibility. We have been so fortunate to have the Earth as our home, and it continues to do so. It is high time we give back to nature and return the favour.
69. Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must be the change we want to see in this world.” All of us are equally responsible for the environment. We can’t continue to pass the blame around. Here is where the responsibility ends. We are the ones who will bring about change on Earth. It’s time to unite and work together in this noble endeavour. We at Nelda can help you make this happen.