Trees

Trees are plants with woody trunks that can live for many years. Some are small enough for a backyard. Others grow taller than buildings. Trees give off oxygen, store carbon, hold soil in place, and create homes for birds, insects, fungi, and many other living things.

How Trees Grow

Trees grow from special places near the tips of their branches and roots. That means a carved mark on a trunk usually stays about the same height above the ground, even as the tree grows taller from the top. The trunk can get wider each year, leaving growth rings inside the wood.

Roots and Water

Tree roots spread through soil to collect water and minerals. A single large tree can take up about 100 gallons of water in a day when conditions are right. Roots can be powerful too. Over time, they may push into cracks and widen them, even in concrete, sidewalks, or stone.

Forest Messages

Trees are not silent in every way. When insects attack, some trees release chemicals that can warn nearby trees. Many forests also have underground fungus networks connected to roots. Through these networks, trees and fungi can trade nutrients, and some trees may share food with neighbors.

Fun Facts

• One tree can shelter hundreds of insect species.
• Leaves are tiny food factories that use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
• Some trees live for thousands of years.

Did You Know?

A forest is more than a group of trees. It is a busy community of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, soil, air, and water all working together.