The long lifespan of many trees, which could be centuries or even millennia in the case of a few species, is a source of awe and inspiration for many. The bark of trees can often tell some stories ...

The seasons are changing from fall to winter, and one of the major changes to the environment is that the deciduous trees have lost their leaves. Evergreen trees may still have green needles, but all ...

Just like every individual is unique, so are trees. No two trees grow at the same rate, have the same leaf pattern, or have identical bark. However, each tree species has specific characteristics that ...

Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us just take it for granted. But bark is one of the most complex ...

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk, branches, and twigs) is woody, composed of xylem cells that conduct water from the roots to the upper parts of the tree. That woody section is ...

The cracked, hard bark of woody plants carries more than just lichen, insects, and years of dust. The seemingly barren layer teems with trillions of microbes, including bacteria, algae, and fungi. 1 ...

When fall’s cold nights kill the flowers and cause so many of our trees and shrubs to drop their leaves, the bareness shines our focus on what’s left – for one thing, tree trunks. Trunks and their ...