Many people underestimate the importance of trees , failing to understand that they are vital to the balance of our entire ecosystem. Trees not only grow naturally, but they can also be planted anywhere with fertile soil. Besides being important to the world, they are also beautiful.
What is a tree?
The first thing we must know about the tree is that it is a plant, it has a wooden stem that can be large, in addition to that, it grows and begins to branch from a certain height.
When we refer to the term "tree" we speak of a tall plant, however, this same height will vary depending on the type of tree we are talking about, some of them can reach 2 meters, 3 meters, 4 meters and even much more. Apart from its type, the size will also depend on where the tree is located.
Annually, trees grow new branches, these can be considered as a secondary branch because they are a kind of extension of the main stem that we know as the "trunk". In this way, it is how what we call "the crown of the tree" is created.
There are some scientists who have established that, for a tree to be considered as such, it must have a single stem or trunk, which must be at least 10 centimeters in diameter, in addition to that, it must have a minimum height of 2 meters. . Without these characteristics, it could not be considered a tree, in fact, this type of plant would be called a bush.
Trees are the largest plants in the world, their length can exceed an unimaginable height. An example of this are the "sequoias", these can easily reach more than 100 meters in height and live for millennia, that is, this plant can have a life span of over 1.000 years.
According to what is known of the history of our planet, trees have existed for at least 370 million years, so we can assure that they are resistant and, in addition to that, they deserve to live on Earth much more than any other living being in the world. , since they have an existence that surpasses any of the other species. In fact, it is believed that there are currently only about 3 billion trees in the world that have reached maturity, the rest of them have not yet reached that stage.
Now, according to studies carried out by scientists and researchers at Yale University, it is believed that, since humanity began to exist, the number of trees has been reduced by 46%, a really important and devastating figure, however this is not is the most alarming. The worst of all this is that, from a few decades ago to the present, at least 15.000 million trees are lost annually throughout the world.
Which leads us to the exact conclusion that the human being is again responsible for the destruction of a natural asset which is extremely important. The most worrying thing is that, after coming to this conclusion, it can also be easily noticed that very few people understand the true magnitude of the damage that is being caused to our planet, and there are even fewer people who raise awareness and they really care what could happen if this keeps happening.
Tree Overview
One of the first things we should know if we want to know about trees is that they are divided into three parts: root, trunk and crown. Now, if we want to know if we are talking about a tree or a bush, what we must observe are the part of the root and the trunk, they are the ones that will tell us at all times, if the specimen that we have in front of us is whether or not it is a tree.
When we talk about bushes, we can notice that they do not have a single trunk, in fact, their stem is made up of two or more trunks. However, we must bear in mind that there are some species that can grow and develop over time as a tree or as a bush, all depending on the environment where it is growing.
Let's learn a little more about the three parts that make up trees:
The root
The roots are responsible for making the trees grow vertically and at the same time remain fixed on the ground without their own weight causing them to fall. In some cases, the trees may have a mother or main root, while, in other cases, there are specimens that have numerous roots where all of them play the same role, that is, none is predominant over another.
In some cases of trees, they have roots that begin to combine symbiotically with the mycelia of fungi found in the soil. These fungi may have roots from various trees that, in one way or another, end up being connected to each other through a network created by the fungus. This mis rad, makes all the trees that are connected through their mycelia, end up receiving the same nutrition and signals that it transmits to them.
There are a number of trees that have aerial roots, that is, they are not found under the ground but are completely or partially exposed. This type of roots are not very common, however they can be observed in a more consistent way, in those trees that live within the places constituted by swamps.
The log
The trunk is responsible for giving the tree height and supporting its crown. What we see on the outside of it is known as bark, it can have a different size, color and shape that is unique to each of the species, the main function of the bark is to protect the sap found in its center and which is responsible for nurturing the entire tree.
The physical characteristics of the trunks in general, are what help people to differentiate between one species of tree and another. An example that we can take into account is that of the common beech, its bark is gray, while its surface has a smooth texture for a long period of time. On the other hand, the common elm has a grayish-brown bark that, in turn, has a cracked texture where various cracks with different directions can be observed.
When we make a longitudinal cut in the trunk of a tree, we will be able to observe a series of rings that detail the way in which it has been developing throughout the years in which it has lived. Every year, the trees receive a new ring, which is why, if you count the number of rings found on the cut trunk, you will be able to know the exact age of the tree.
Of course this can be done, above all, in those trees that grew in areas with temperate climates, since those that grew in a tropical climate do not have such marked rings due to the constancy that exists in the climate of those areas. Reason why these rings are not very visible in this type of trees, contrary to those that grow in temperate zones.
When we look at these rings, we can see that some are narrower than others. When we talk about narrow rings, we can know that that year was difficult for the tree, perhaps it did not receive enough nutrients or perhaps there was a sudden change in the environment, for this reason its growth slowed down. On the other hand, when we notice much thicker rings, we can assume that this year was much more beneficial for the tree.
If we look closely, we can see that a slightly darker color can be seen in the center of the trunk, which indicates that it is the heartwood or heart of the trunk. This area is made up of various dead cells that, in general, are the best for use as fuel wood. After this dark area, we can see some slightly lighter rings, these are called albuna.
There is a space between the albuna and the trunk which is made up of a layer of living cells called cambium, this layer is responsible for making the tree continue to grow. It is divided into two parts, one that is inside which we know as xylem and another that is outside and is called phloem.
The cup
The cup is made up of branches and leaves. The same, will change every year and will grow again. Depending on the time of year, the change is made in one way or another. Let's learn a little more detail about each of them.
The branches
In general, the branches of the trees grow at an approximate height from the ground, this means that the trunk is free of them up to a certain height. Depending on the type of tree we are talking about, it will be the way in which the top of the tree will grow, however, three forms of growth can be distinguished: the form that is elongated and vertical growth, the rounded form or the form where its greatest growth is done horizontally, very similar to the shape of umbrellas.
Tree branches grow directly from the trunk, so they are part of it. In turn, these branches then sub-branch creating secondary branches where the leaves will begin to grow and the buds can be found. The buds are the place where the blooms, leaves and even new branches are born. When we look at the buds that remain at the end of each twig, we can say that we are in front of a terminal bud, which is usually surrounded by scales or in some cases, thorns, a form of protection.
Leaves
The leaves of the trees are of utmost importance, because, through them, it is through the photosynthesis of the tree in general and in this way it will be able to feed itself. All trees absorb water from the soil through their roots, as do all minerals and nutrients. After absorption, they climb through the trunk until they finally reach the leaves. It is there where these come into contact with carbon and sugars begin to be produced.
Once the sugar is formed, it turns into cellulose. Cellulose is the elementary material with which the wood of each of the trees is constituted.
When we talk about the leaves, we can notice that it is divided into two parts, the upper one, which is commonly known as the upper part, and the lower one, called the underside, in this, is where we can find the stomata, which are small holes through which penetrates carbon dioxide and exits the excess water and oxygen so vital for the entire planet.
When we talk about the leaves of the trees, we have to understand that they are a fundamental element when it comes to being able to differentiate one type of tree from another. Generally speaking, we can differentiate four different types of leaves:
- Needles: which have a very similar shape to that of the needles since they are fine and narrow. We can observe them a lot in the different types of pines.
- Squamiforms: these have a more scaly shape.
- Pinnatiffolios: these are leaf blades that are divided into another type of leaf which is called "leaflets", however, all of these grow on the same rachis. The rachis, could be called the stem that has the leaf, and is usually composed of the main and secondary rachis.
- Simple and undivided leaves: these are those leaves that grow individually on the branch of the tree through its own stem or petiole. When these leaves lack said stem, they are called sessile.
Flowers and fruits of the trees
The trees that belong to the group of conifers, that is, the most important group in the world, are called gymnosperm trees, which means that they are seed producers and which are characteristic for having reproduction structures which we know as cones. The cones are those seeds that many of us know as pineapples.
However, most trees are considered as angiosperms, that is, floral trees since their reproductive mode is carried out through flowers. Now, we must know an exception among the gymnosperm trees, this would be the gingko tree, which, despite belonging to this type of tree, is not found within the group of conifers, however, they have a similar reproduction .
In some cases, the growth of the flowers is carried out individually, that is, each flower is separated from the others, however, there are some that grow in small bouquets where there are numerous presences of the same and that are called inflorescences.
Something that we must be clear about is that not all trees have the presence of complete flowers, that is, they have male and female reproductive organs, but there are some that have, on themselves, flowers that are female and flowers that are not. that they are masculine.
Even if we look further, we can observe some tree species in which the same specimen has only female flowers, while another specimen has only male flowers, an example of this type of tree would be, again, the gingko.
tree diversity
Trees can be classified in different ways; this diversity represents one of the main characteristics of biodiversity . Generally, if we observe the type of leaves they have, we can tell if we are looking at a deciduous tree, which is one that loses all its leaves during the colder or harsher seasons of the year, or an evergreen tree, which does not lose all its leaves at once or annually; that is, the leaves fall off at certain intervals, usually one at a time.
One of the main ways to distinguish the different types of trees is through their growth, recognizing if one of them grows monopodically or sympodically.
When we speak of monopodic growth, we are not referring to one whose longitudinal growth is characterized by being based on the growth of various ramifications that have the stem or trunk of the tree as their sole nucleus. These branches grow laterally on the same trunk and are much thinner than this one. This type of growth could generally be compared to the pyramidal geometric shape. We can observe it in all the species of pines or the coniferous group.
Now, when we talk about sympodic growth, we refer to the growth of branches that derive from another branch that is already seated or that is commonly known as the main branch, these new branches are the ones that will now take control of growth. The shape of the growth of the crowns of these trees could no longer be defined as pyramidal, because contrary to this, their shape becomes more cylindrical or circular, depending on the species.
Importance of trees
When we talk about the study of trees in general, that is, the different types that exist and their taxonomy, we are referring to dendrology, which is the science that studies this part of the trees, and which, many times, It is confused with botany, however, botany as such studies all plants in general, while dendrology studies only trees.
There is another science that has trees as its main study, this is forestry. It specializes in the merely scientific study of trees and how they can be cared for and cultivated in such a way that they can grow healthily. This science is the one used by forest engineers when making analyzes of the trees found in a given area.
Trees are one of the most important living beings within the planet's ecosystem. They are an essential part of the landscape that surrounds us, they are responsible for preventing erosion and in addition to that, they are responsible for providing protection to various ecosystems, this protection occurs within its foliage and under it. For this reason, there are many species that, during special climates, seek the protection of trees.
In addition to those mentioned above, another of the fundamental importance that trees have within our ecosystems is that they are responsible for producing the oxygen that we all breathe and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that may be in our environment. In addition, it is also responsible for regulating the temperatures that the floors may have where they are located.
Trees in general are a visual attraction, so in many places they are used for landscaping since they, regardless of their species, provide visual beauty to any type of setting where they are placed. And not only that, trees are also extremely important in agriculture, especially those that provide fruits that can be eaten by humans and some other species.
Without wanting to downplay it, we must also remember that trees are the only source that provides us with madrera and many other derivatives that can be manufactured thanks to its trunk. The mother, is one of the most important materials that are extracted directly from the trees, with these different types of constructions can be made, from the smallest and insignificant, to the largest and most important.
In addition to this, the mother is also one of the main primary energy sources that many countries and regions have that are still undertaking their growth mediating a simple but important development.
Finally, it is also affirmed the importance that trees have within the different mythologies that exist throughout it, since they are generally considered one of the strongest and wisest spirits of all forests and even of the world. world, this due to the time in which they can live, since, having a life time that can be thousands of years old, they are able to observe and live different stages of the Earth.
Knowing all this, we must accept once and for all that if we continue destroying natural areas, forests, jungles, where not only the flora and fauna are destroyed, we are going to put our planet at greater risk.
If we don't start protecting and conserving our environment, the damage will be irreversible, and we may begin to see massive deterioration in what we know today as Planet Earth, since, unfortunately, man is one of the main causes of deforestation.
