Tree

With an evolutionary history spanning 400 million years, trees have adapted to diverse climates. Current estimates suggest a global population of three trillion mature trees.

Taxonomic diversity is vast, ranging from angiosperms (flowering plants) to gymnosperms (conifers) and tree ferns, which reproduce via spores.

Trees are not a monophyletic group but a collection of species that independently evolved woody stems to achieve vertical dominance in plant communities.

Beyond their ecological role in carbon storage and climate moderation, trees hold significant cultural and mythological value, often revered in sacred groves.

The tree's structure includes a protective bark layer and a vascular system for nutrient transport. Roots provide structural anchorage and moisture extraction, while leaves perform photosynthesis.