10 Most Unusual Trees in the World
1,42510 Most Unusual Trees in the World
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Trees graced the earth's surface about 360 million years ago and since then, it's been one discovery after another. While there are trees everywhere, there are others I prefer to describe as unusual. Why? Some trees are enigmatic and have defiled all natural laws. And yes, it's no joke, they actually exist.
Without much ado, we look at the ten most unusual trees in the world.
Number 10 - Wollemia nobilis in Australia
While Australia is known for various volcanic eruptions and wildfires, we can't get enough of the country's abundant resources. Although the Wollemi tree is called a pine, it is not a pine. It is an evergreen tree that reaches almost 40 meters with a width of about 63cm. The largest of this tree species is found in a rainforest in Australia. Wollemi grows faster in light and thrives in acidic soils.
This tree survives in temperature as low as -12 degrees Celsius. The bark of the tree resembles an everyday breakfast cereal called coco pops. The leaves are twisted at the base and arranged spirally on the shoot. One of the most outstanding features of this trunk is that it can sprout multiple trunks. It then means that some trees could be 400 years old, but the roots may be more than 1000 years old.
Their unusual branch terminates in a cone and stops growing after a few years. When the cone matures, the branch dies, and new ones grow from dormant buds. A side branch can also develop into a secondary trunk and bear new sets of side branches. The oldest known Wollemi pine dates back to 90 million years, which leads scientists to believe that it may have existed during the Jurassic period.
Number 9 - The Chapel Oak in France
Like the typical fairy stories you were told growing up, this oak tree is home to two small chapels. It is known as the oldest tree in France and has lived through different centuries like the French revolution, Sarkozy, and Napoleon era. Surprisingly, it still stands firm.
In the 1600s, this tree was hit by a disaster that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. A flash of lightning struck and penetrated the tree. This led to a hollow in the tree's trunk, but it survived still. When this development got to father Du Cerceau, he decided to build a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary inside. Later, locals built a smaller chapel in the hollow.
Although this tree is still in use, it is showing signs of aging and stress. Poles hold it, and part of the tree trunk has died. Despite the deterioration, church members gather twice in a year for mass. The location still serves as a pilgrimage center to celebrate the feast of the virgin Mary's assumption.
Number 8 - Tree of Tule in Mexico.
El Arbol del Tule, also known as the Tule tree, is the most expansive tree globally. It is one of the most significant botanical discoveries made in Sydney, Australia, in 1994. It measures only about 35.4 meters in height but has a diameter of approximately 11.62 meters. The tree has lived for over 1,500 years, making it one of the world's oldest trees.
Its size is said to be the result of a merger between various trees. However, modern research disputes this fact. Recent research on the tule tree shows that the tree is a single entity and not a conglomeration of different tree species. People who have visited the tree say it has semblance with jaguars, lions, elephants, deer, fish, and a host of other creatures.
Since it was noted that the tree was drying out in the 19th century, it has since been watered regularly. That's not all about the tule tree. Did you know that this tree dwarfs the main church in the town but hasn't stopped growing? Now you know.
Number 7 - Dragon tree in the Canary Islands
The dragon tree is a member of the asparagus family and is known for its umbrella-like appearance. This tree is treasured by locals and people who live as far as the Mediterranean. The Guanche people living in the Canary island use the sap for their traditional mummification. The ancient Romans also use the sap as a colorant, and Europeans use the tree's sap as antioxidants.
The tree has also contributed a fair share of its goodness to the environment. About 500 years ago, a flightless bird fed on the fruits of the dragon bird. Scientists say that the processing of this tree's seed in the bird's digestive tract helped stimulate the seed's germination. Since this bird is extinct, there has been a decline in the number of naturally occurring dragon trees.