Have you planned travels around visiting a specific tree? Did your interest perk up when Treebeard and the ents were first introduced in the Lord of the Rings? Have you ever wondered about seemingly futile facts such as what pine tree has the largest or heaviest pinecone?
 
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you might be a dendropohile...or nemophilist...or maybe you simply refer to yourself as a tree nerd or tree nut.
 
Playing trivia games doesn't typically interest me, but I do enjoy learning about unique trees and other trivial pieces of information related to trees and forests.
 
Here are a few notes from my journal of interesting trees and tidbits I’ve collected over the years.
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DEEPEST TREE ROOTS

You are likely familiar with tap roots, but do you know that most trees with tap roots only utilize them during establishment. As the tree grows, it develops a more wide-spreading, fibrous root system which is better capable of providing structural support to keep the tree upright and for nutrient & water absorption. (see illustration below)
 
Most of a trees’ roots are located within the top 3 feet of soil. The vast majority of these (90%) being in the just the top 18” of soil. Further, the majority of the absorbing roots are found in the top 6” as there tends to be sufficient nutrients, oxygen, and water closer to the surface. Sending roots deeper is not often necessary.
 
There are instances where trees may need to and can send down sinker roots to reach deeper. There have been some roots discovered at extraordinary depths!
 
In one account, a researcher from Rutgers University found roots 230 feet (70 meters) below ground. They belonged to a Shepherd's tree (Boscia albitrunca) in the Kalahari Desert, 

The Guinness Book of World Records lists the deepest tree roots ever found were discovered in a cave system in South Africa, almost 400 feet (122 meters) below the surface! The wild fig tree's(Ficus natalensis) were found in Echo Caves. (note that this is deeper than the tallest known tree is tall - Hyperion coastal redwood @ 380 ft/116 meters)

OLDEST TREE PLANTED BY HUMANS
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One of the most sacred trees on the planet, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa) was reportedly planted 2,311 years ago, making it possibly the oldest living tree known to be planted by humans.
 
Records indicate one of the early kings of Sri Lanka planted the tree from a cutting in his gardens in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The tree has been cared for by kings and Buddhist monks given its heritage and a believed descendant of the original Bodhi tree under which Siddhartha Guatama reached enlightenment.
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WORLD’S RAREST TREE

There was only one known Three Kings kaikōmako tree (Pennantia baylisiana) when a botanist discovered it in the wild in 1945.

​It was found on Three Kings Island; about 34 miles northwest of Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand’s northern island. (34.15957° S, 172.13743° E)
 
Being dioecious (having separate male & female plants), this single female tree was unlikely to reproduce and produce seed. Similar to how the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi fig above was propagated by cutting, this tree was successfully propagated in the 1950’s. (Read more about tree propagation here)
 
That single tree growing in the wild and a few of the propagated trees eventually set seed, but the fruits were seldom fertile (around 1 in 2000). Continued efforts by scientists eventually led to an individual tree becoming self-fertile in the 1990’s, opening the door to possibility of saving this species from extinction. 
 
Even though hundreds of Three Kings kaikōmakos have been propagated and planted since finding that sole survivor, it is easy to understand why it is known as the "world's loneliest tree".
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Here are a few species that exhibit unique colors and coloration:
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• Amaranth (Peltogyne spp.), also known as purpleheart, grows in Central to South America. When freshly cut, the wood is gray-brown in color. Exposed to air it turns to a deeper eggplant purple.
• African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) grows in arid regions of central & southern Africa. Its heartwood is completely black.
• African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) grows in tropical areas of central & west Africa. The color of this wood varies from reddish-orange to deep brownish red.
• Pink ivory (Phyllogeiton zeyheri) is native to southern Africa and has a vibrant pinkish-red color. 

 
One species that can also be found in North America is boxelder (Acer negundo), a type of maple. It may not be a particularly desirable species in many people’s opinions, yet it has a unique characteristic you might witness when pruning and cutting into the trunk.
 
Once cut, the exposed wood can turn red and even vibrant red; blood red. The discoloration seems to be related to a fungus or the tree having been exposed to other stresses. (Scientists continue to study the details of this reaction)

​Whatever the cause, it is interesting to see it change before your eyes! The reaction makes boxelder wood with “flame red” coloration and streaking attractive to woodworkers.

Back to Those Cones

​For my fellow tree-geeks still wondering what the largest and heaviest pinecones may be:

- Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) produces the longest pinecone (and longest cone of all conifers), reaching about 20 inches (50 cm) in length. They grow naturally in western North America, from Oregon, U.S. down into Baja California, Mexico.
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- Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri) has the heaviest pinecones, weighing in around 10 pounds (5 Kg). They grow in the coastal mountains of southern California, U.S. and northern Baja California, Mexico.

We have previously talked about the oldest and largest trees in the world. There are plenty of other questions we may have, such as, what is the fastest growing tree or tree with the widest spreading branches. Here are a few interesting trees and tree-related facts to entertain your curiosities.
 
FASTEST GROWING TREE
You may know a silver maple tends to grow faster than a white oak. You may be aware that bamboo grows very fast, which can grow 1.5" per hour /2.9 feet per day. You can literally watch it grow! Even though it may look like a tree, bamboo is actually a type of grass. So what is the fastest growing tree?

Albizia (Falcataria moluccana), is a tree species that is native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Growing in Malaysia, albizia has been documented in reaching 35ft in 13 months, or over 2.5ft per month! A white oak may need 35 years to reach that height.

Banyans are considered a single-trunk tree although they generate the prop “trunks”. Notice the 4 trunks in the distance to the left side of the picture above. These are part of this same tree.

Compare this to Pando, a quaking aspen which covers 106 acres in Fish Lake National Forest in Utah. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a clonal species, meaning the underground root system sends up multiple trunks, each looking like an individual tree..

MOST UNUSUAL PROPERTY OWNER
Do trees have rights? Apparently one does. In the early 1800’s, a property owner so loved the white oak (Quercus alba) growing on his property that he reportedly deeded the land to the tree itself upon his passing. The tree owns itself.

That tree fell in 1942 and was replaced with a new tree grown from one of its acorns. While the deed is not known to exist, the residents and community of Athens, GA recognize the tree’s title to the land.
 
MOST TREES PLANTED IN A DAY
I'd like to think everyone reading this has planted at least one tree in their life. Preferably a handful. Some of us have planted hundreds or even thousands.

Having worked on tree farms and reforestation crews, I have planted hundreds of trees in a single day. Planting a bare-rooted seedling goes a lot faster than a larger tree from the nursery! While I am proud of the number of trees I have planted over the years, Antoine Moses holds the Guinness World Record as the individual planting the most trees in 24 hours.

He planted 23,060 trees in La Crete, Alberta, Canada on July 17, 2021! What did you do with your time during the Covid-19 pandemic?

​Many of us feel a sense of admiration and adoration when we look upon an old or exceptionally large tree. 
 
Given many tree species live to ages well beyond human life expectancy, they can provide a connection to something larger than ourselves such as our ancestors, our moment in time, and our place in Nature.
 
It is natural to have respect for our elders as they played a part in getting us to where we are today. The same can be said for the respect we have for old trees and old-growth forests given the many benefits we receive and role they play in healthy environments and ecosystems.

An increment borer is a tool used by professionals who wish to view the annual growth rings of a tree. The tool is in essence a long metal tube with spiral teeth on the outer side, allowing it to be screwed into the trunk. Being a hollow cylinder, a “straw” or wood rod is captured inside the tube. When we remove this straw/rod, we have a cross-section of the growth rings. If you screwed into the center of the stem, you then have a rod that includes all of the growth rings. 

Not only can these rings be counted to help us determine the age of the tree, but also hold quite a bit of information that can be studied in order to help us look back in time. ​

• Dendrochronology studies the information we can read from annual growth rings and used by arborists, climate scientists, and even archeologists. Read more about this interesting field of study: What Tree Rings Tell Us About Past and Present - https://www.environmentalscience.org/dendrochronology-tree-rings-tell-us​​

​Of course we don’t always hit the center of the stem. If your borer isn’t long enough to reach center, you miss the center, or should the middle of the tree be hollow, your extracted straw will not have all of the growth rings. In these instances, we may still be able to extrapolate the estimated age of the stem through calculating the average annual growth rate of the rings you did capture.
 
Researchers, educators, and some tree fanatics will spend the money on this specialized equipment. The exact age of a tree has little impact when it comes to prescribing health related treatments, which is why this is not a standard piece of equipment used by arborists and related professions. 

Just Tell Me the Answer

Since a tree’s age is a metric that often appeals to the general public and tree enthusiasts, there is another method that can be used to estimate ages.
 
If we measure enough trees of a specific species, an average annual growth rate can be calculated for the species. Thanks to numerous research studies, this data has been used to generate growth factor values for a number of common tree species. 

​Utilizing the Gorwth Factor chart and formula above; if you have a 10” diameter silver maple, your tree is likely to be about 30 years old (3.0 growth factor x 10”dbh = 30 years age).

​Remember, this only provides an estimate based on the average growth rate of silver maple. Depending on the growing conditions it developed under, I wouldn't be surprised if this tree is 20 years or even 50 years old.

If the tree has been growing under fertile and ideal conditions, then growth rate can be greater and the tree younger in age. If the tree is growing under stressful conditions or in poor soil, then its rate of growth will be slower and an older age. (We'll look at an extreme example of this shortly!)
 
To further complicate the matter, a tree is likely to experience years of greater growth and periods of slow growth throughout its lifetime. For example, trees that have a new home built next to them where construction equipment caused soil compaction to its root zone are likely to experience a period of slowed growth.

The duration and extent of this negative impact is unknown in most cases and an example of why the formula method can only aid us in guess-timating a tree’s age.
 
These examples are not meant to cause confusion, but rather aid in understanding why there can be such great variance when estimating age solely by tree size. Such variables can be taken into consideration when we are aware of them. When considering such variables, I typically offer an estimated age range that may span 25-50 years or more.

If a ballpark estimate is good enough to satiate your curiosity, use the formula. 

Growing Older But Not Up

​If trees get larger as they age, it may stand to reason that the largest trees are likely the oldest trees and vice versa. This is not usually the case, so let's consider this example.

​The oldest known tree in Wisconsin has been estimated close to 1,300 years old. (An increment borer was used for this estimation.)

​It is an eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with a trunk only 10 inches wide (10" dbh). 
 
This tree is growing on the side of a cliff. Growing out of cracks in the rock face is not exactly the best soil conditions for any tree, yet this tree has been able to survive while putting on very little growth per year.

This demonstrates that the site conditions a tree is growing in can greatly influence its rate of growth considering an redcedar growing in ideal conditions could likely grow to a 10” diameter trunk within 50 years.
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This is in large part why trying to guess a tree’s age simply by looking at its size can be less than precise and why some professionals decline to provide age estimates.

​Is Age Just a Number
 
I have enjoyed time amongst trees that sprouted in each of the last 4 millennia. I regularly visit a 200-250 year old bur oak, spending time in its branches thinking of all the changes it has seen in its lifetime.
 
While we may not need to know the exact age of the tree, it is neat to be able to have an idea of how old a tree may be as knowing its age often instills a sense of admiration and connects us to previous generations and our point in history.

Photos borrowed from:

• 1897 klondike gold rush https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/klondike-and-the-barbarous-relic
• 1920 Women's Right to Vote https://time.com/5876762/19th-amendment-ratified/
• 1963 MLK Jr’s I have a Dream https://www.history.com/news/i-have-a-dream-speech-mlk-facts
• 1968 Earthrise photograph https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/apollo-8-earthrise/
• 1999 Julia Butterfly Hill spent 738 days in tree https://www.historydefined.net/julia-butterfly-hill/

Cold temperatures, shortened daylight hours, and lack of greenery can fool anyone into thinking there isn’t much reason to head outside in winter. It may seem like life and Nature have hit the pause button. 
 
Don’t be fooled. There is a lot going on out there!
 
With less foliage present in the winter, there are many characteristics that become more apparent and less obscured by the sensory overload during the growing season. If you are not sure of what you are looking for, all you need to do is get out there and let your senses be the guide.

SIGHT
 
Fall leaf color is one of the more noticeable aspects of trees that people enjoy. One study estimated a 30-billion-dollar annual contribution to the tourism industries of the 24 states in the eastern U.S. alone. 
 
While the fall color change can be enjoyed through the windshield, there are many more details to enjoy when you slow down and spend time in the presence of a tree. 
 
Branches twist and wind their way to openings where their leaves can capture sunlight. This winding nature of the branches leads to an artistic framework. The abstract patterns can be enjoyed from a number of angles and perspectives, such as when winter leaf drop exposes the branching structure of deciduous trees.

​​Bark color and textures vary greatly between species. River birch’s bark layers peel and curl along the trunk, revealing salmon colored inner bark. This attractive coloration and unique look make it a popular tree in landscapes. It may take on added winter interest if you do a little reading on a potentially useful characteristic of birch bark. Birch bark contains a compound that repels water, keeping the tissue dry. It is also flammable. A perfect combination when needing to start a campfire.

I particularly enjoy the texture, colors, and patterns of sycamore bark. The flaking bark leaves behind an evolving camouflage pattern formed as the green, gray, and tan papery layers exfoliate to reveal bright white inner bark on stems. ​

​In late winter, as we begin to anticipate the coming spring weather, the tiny leaf buds begin to swell and provide an early hint of the colorful season to come. This slight coloration is seen in the tops of the trees, contrasting against the brown and gray branches and blue skies. As winter draws to a close, we can enjoy the hint of red atop silver and red maples as well as the vibrant yellow cast along weeping willow twigs..

​TOUCH
 
In Wisconsin we are fortunate to have northern white cedars. They make my personal top-ten list of favorite tree barks!
 
As northern white cedars age, their bark shreds into thin linear strips that run up and down the trunk. It has a slightly spongy feel in the outer layers of bark if you press into it with your fingertips and feels soft to the touch as you run your fingers along. 
 
There are numerous areas where we can get out and enjoy northern white cedar across Wisconsin, with one of my favorite areas being Newport State Park in Door County. Closer to my home in Waukesha County, Retzer Nature Center has a few groves of cedars around the park, one of which forms the centerpiece of the parking lot. 
 
Even your feet will notice the soft, cushiony feel of the leaf litter blanketing the ground under a grove of northern white cedar.
 
You can enjoy their bark at any time of year, but spending time with them in winter has far greater impact for me as they maintain their green foliage through the winter. Immersing myself in a canopy of green when brown and gray dominate the winter color spectrum is like a breath of fresh air. 

​SMELL
 
I can seldom pass on the opportunity to bend down and smell a flower in bloom. Some have little to no fragrance. Some are enjoyable and others might not be so pleasant. Regardless, the experience of stopping to smell the flowers pulls me into the present moment.
 
Even with the lack of flowers in the winter months, there are a few trees that I have a hard time passing by without taking in their pleasant fragrance. Some may have soothing effects and others I find energizing.

SOUND
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I enjoy the distinct crunching sounds underfoot during a winter hike. Whether the trail is lined with fallen oak leaves or covered in freshly fallen snow, neither of these unique sounds were something I experienced while growing up in Puerto Rico and southern Florida.
 
Another one of the sounds I go in search of in winter leads me to stands of eastern white pine. Not only does the foliage dampen the stark sounds from traffic and other noise pollution sources, the fine and feathery texture of the needles emit a soothing “whoosh” as the breeze passes through. 
 
Pair this calming sound with the soft texture of the needles and pleasant aroma and you may be able to understand why sitting on a branch near the top of an eastern white pine is one of my favorite places to be!

Black or sweet birch is known for its wintergreen taste, black cherry for its somewhat cherry or almond-like taste, and sassafras has flavors of spiced fruit. Since some of these species may also contain low levels of toxic compounds when ingested, you may opt for the alternative experience of scraping the bark of fresh twigs to reveal the aroma. Sassafras has a fruity aroma like that of Froot Loops!

Using the sense of taste should be approached with caution. Even if a particular plant is known to be edible, it may still contain toxic compounds, certain people may have a sensitivity, or there may be similar looking plants that may be toxic. ​

SENSORY JOURNEY

While we may spend more time indoors during the winter months, there are plenty reasons to get out and enjoy the season. If not just to get out in the sunshine or bathe in the green colors of pines, spruces, and other evergreens, I'm also drawn outside to witness the unique aspects visible in winter and appreciate the different experience they provide.

Acknowledging and engaging in the changing of the seasons helps to build layers of memories, can strgengthen your emoitonal attachment to a place, and grow your appreciation of life.

Through this past year, the vast majority of climbers returned to the ground with a sense of accomplishment, feeling of pride, boost in self-confidence, and a big smile on their face.  

We met parents who were supportive of their children, speaking with words of love and encouragement. There were participants who overcame their trepidation and ended up excelling and enjoying their time above the ground. A number of children and young adults had the exciting opportunity to participate in an activity alongside their parents and grandparents. 

With so many fantastic memories and wonderful people, I was tempted to put together a year-end video recap of the year. We were able to capture many nice images of climbers, but there are too many for us to make a video with a realistic time length. 

In this period of reflection, I am inspired to share your pictures in a series of videos related to our experiences with trees and tree climbing.  

Inspired by Robert Fulgham's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten... and our interactions together, I created this video to share a few of the lessons trees have taught me throughout my journey thus far. ​

Your day in the trees may have been captured in this video. If not, I hope you will keep an eye out in the coming months as I cycle through as many of the images as I can in upcoming videos. Other images will grace our website pages and posts on Facebook and Instagram.