By Parkash Sehgal
Trees are very generous. They are constantly giving – from shade to apples and pears, to maple syrup, to cleaner air and water, or simply beauty – they endlessly provide us with so many gifts. Here, we’ve gathered a few lesser-known fun facts in celebration of trees:
1. In early 1971, the Apollo 14 space expedition was sent to the Moon with several tree seeds. After completing an orbit and returning to Earth, the Forest Service germinated the seeds and planted them. Twenty years later, there is no evident difference between the ‘Moon trees’ and trees grown on Earth. Whether they are well-traveled or not, trees have been part of the ecosystem since its inception and are a vital part of the planet’s healthy status quo.
2. Trees often have mycorrhizal fungi living on or in their roots. Their relationship with these fungi is quite special because it often connects one fungi-covered tree to another one that might be a mile away. It’s a vast network of fine filaments used for communication and resource sharing.
3. There is a white oak tree in Athens, Georgia which legally owns itself. In the early 1800s, its original owner deeded tree ownership to the tree itself and all land within eight feet of its base.
4. Giant sequoias can grow to be more than 250 feet tall. The biggest of all is General Sherman, a sequoia that stands 275 feet tall has a 102-foot circumference. These trees can live more than 3,000 years, with the oldest on record living more than 3,500 years.
5. Redwood bark can be up to 24 inches thick. Talk about thick skin!
