A tree is an amazing miracle of nature. If this plant had not appeared, then our world would never have become the way we used to see it. And life itself would not exist as such, because it is trees that produce oxygen, which is so necessary for the development of most organisms.
But how much does a person know about a tree? How well did he study its components, types and methods of reproduction? Do you know why many trees shed their leaves in autumn? And what puzzles scientists even today?
What is a tree?
Even first-graders should know the answer to this question, because this is material from the elementary school curriculum. A tree is a type of perennial plant, a distinctive feature of which is the presence of a stiff trunk. At the same time, over the years, it only increases in size, and does not die off at the end of each season.
Trees grow almost everywhere, with the exception of Antarctica and some desert areas. What is true, even in the hottest corners of the Earth, covered with hot, lifeless sand, you can find secluded oases with lushgrowing palms and laurels.
Tree species
In general, this type of plant is usually divided into two large types: coniferous and broad-leaved.
As you might guess from the name, a coniferous tree is one that has various kinds of needles and scales instead of leaves. Spruces, pines, cypresses and firs are striking examples of such crops. At the same time, most conifers are evergreen species.
Broad-leaved, on the contrary, have thin leaves at the ends of branches. At the same time, their shape, depending on the specific type of tree, is greatly modified. In most cases, their appearance alone can tell exactly which plant they belong to.
Also, a person selected into separate classes those trees that can bring him special benefit. For example, there are fruit-bearing plants that are cultivated in gardens to harvest them. There are also valuable species, whose wood is intended for the construction of houses, shelters, crossings and even ships.
Structure of a tree
A tree is a very complex mechanism. Even today, scientists cannot understand some of the processes that take place inside its cells. In particular, they are particularly interested in photosynthesis, due to which carbon dioxide is converted into oxygen. This is such a complex chemical process that, even after understanding its nature, chemists still cannot reproduce it in the laboratory.
If we talk about the general structure of the tree, then everything is much simpler here. It consists of four mainparts: roots, trunk, branches and leaves. At the same time, each of these components performs its own, unique and irreplaceable function.
What do trees do in autumn and winter?
As mentioned earlier, some trees remain green all year long, while others shed their leaves with the arrival of the first cold weather. Particularly inquisitive minds wondered: "Why are they doing this?"
Firstly, it is a self-preservation mechanism developed over many years of evolution. The thing is that trees in winter, due to frost, become very fragile. This is especially true for small branches that have not yet had time to get stronger. If the leaves do not fall, then snow will settle on them, thereby increasing their weight. Eventually, this will cause the branches to sag and break.
Another reason for falling leaves is the slowdown of all life processes in the tree trunk. It seems to fall into hibernation, which lasts until spring. However, scientists still don't know for sure exactly when hardwoods began to behave this way. As for their coniferous "brothers", they have almost no such sleep mechanism.
Tree is the true treasure of the planet
In conclusion, I would like to note that trees are the lungs of the planet. If they are gone, then humanity will most likely die with them. That is why it is so important that everyone remembers their role in our lives.
I would like to note that at the moment the number of allThere are more than 3 trillion trees on the planet. And every year, due to deforestation and the expansion of urban areas, this number is reduced by 15 billion. Such a trend, alas, cannot lead to anything good. And therefore, let's hope that in the future a person will still learn to use the planet's resources more rationally.
