Interesting Tree Facts

Here are some fun facts about trees that we thought you might enjoy:

1. A large tree can take 100 gallons of water a day from the ground and disperse it into the air.
2. The world’s largest living tree is thought to be a giant sequoia tree, located in the Sequoia National Park in California.  The “General Sherman” attracts thousands of visitors a year; it stands at 275 feet and has a circumference of 102 feet at ground level.
3. The world’s oldest tree is purpoted to be a Bristlecone Pine, also located in California and believed to be over 5,000 years old!
4. The science of studying tree rings and dating trees is known as dendrochronology
5. According to a study conducted by Botanical Gardens Conservation International, there are over 60,000 species of trees existing worldwide.
6. Approximately 30% of the planet’s surface is covered by trees, although this is declining
7. The world’s most common tree is thought to be the red alder
8. The UK has around 3 billion trees, with an estimated 3 trillion worldwide, though this number is reducing daily
9. Scientists have discovered that trees can produce phenolics in their leaves when insects attack them. They communicate an attack to neighbouring trees to enable them to defend themselves against the insects.
10. Pine cones are either male or female, with the females making seeds while the males produce pollen. Wind scatters the pollen on to female cones to enable pollination to take place

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