Tree
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For other uses, see Tree (disambiguation).
Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), a deciduous broad-leaved (angiosperm) tree
European larch (Larix decidua), a coniferous tree which is also deciduous
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting
branches and leaves in most species. In some usages, the definition of a tree may
be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are
usable as lumber or plants above a specified height. In wider definitions, the
taller palms, tree ferns, bananas, and bamboos are also trees. Trees are not
a taxonomic group but include a variety of plant species that have independently
evolved a trunk and branches as a way to tower above other plants to compete for
sunlight. Trees tend to be long-lived, some reaching several thousand years old.
Trees have been in existence for 370 million years. It is estimated that there are
some three trillion mature trees in the world.[1]
A tree typically has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground by the
trunk. This trunk typically contains woody tissue for strength, and vascular tissue to
carry materials from one part of the tree to another. For most trees it is surrounded
by a layer of bark which serves as a protective barrier. Below the ground,
the roots branch and spread out widely; they serve to anchor the tree and extract
moisture and nutrients from the soil. Above ground, the branches divide into smaller
branches and shoots. The shoots typically bear leaves, which capture light energy
and convert it into sugars by photosynthesis, providing the food for the tree's growth
and development.
Trees usually reproduce using seeds. Flowers and fruit may be present, but some
trees, such as conifers, instead have pollen cones and seed cones. Palms, bananas,
and bamboos also produce seeds, but tree ferns produce spores instead.
Trees play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate. They
remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store large quantities of carbon in
their tissues. Trees and forests provide a habitat for many species of animals and
plants. Tropical rainforests are among the most biodiverse habitats in the world.
Trees provide shade and shelter, timber for construction, fuel for cooking and
heating, and fruit for food as well as having many other uses. In parts of the world,
forests are shrinking as trees are cleared to increase the amount of land available for
agriculture. Because of their longevity and usefulness, trees have always been
revered, with sacred groves in various cultures, and they play a role in many of the
world's mythologies.
Contents
1Definition
2Overview
3Distribution
4Parts and function
o 4.1Roots
o 4.2Trunk
o 4.3Buds and growth
o 4.4Leaves
o 4.5Reproduction
o 4.6Seeds
5Evolutionary history
6Ecology
7Uses
o 7.1Food
o 7.2Fuel
o 7.3Timber
o 7.4Art
7.4.1Bonsai
7.4.2Tree shaping
o 7.5Bark
o 7.6Ornamental trees
o 7.7Other uses
8Care
9Mythology
10Superlative trees
11See also
12Notes
13References
14Further reading
Definition
Diagram of secondary growth in a eudicot or coniferous tree showing idealised vertical and horizontal
sections. A new layer of wood is added in each growing season, thickening the stem, existing branches
and roots.
Although "tree" is a term of common parlance, there is no universally recognised
precise definition of what a tree is, either botanically or in common language.[2] In its
broadest sense, a tree is any plant with the general form of an elongated stem, or
trunk, which supports the photosynthetic leaves or branches at some distance above
the ground.[3] Trees are also typically defined by height, [4] with smaller plants from 0.5
to 10 m (1.6 to 32.8 ft) being called shrubs,[5] so the minimum height of a tree is only
loosely defined.[4] Large h