Trees, like animals, are living organisms and have their own life cycle. Each tree, like man, once comes into the world, grows a certain time and dies. Tree longevity depends on many factors. Individual species can live up to several thousand years.
The article provides information on the basic principles of tree growth, methods for determining their age, information on the life expectancy of trees (more than 20 species), common causes of death, as well as ways to extend the life of trees. In addition, a selection of record holders for life expectancy among the plant world has been made.
How does a tree grow?
Trees, like animals, have cellular tissues. Instead of skin, they have bark, instead of internal organs - wood. The growth of the cellular tissue of the tree occurs, as a rule, in the warm season, when leaves are present on the branches.
Of great importance in the growth of trees is photosynthesis. Scientists call this process the formation of organic matter under the action of sunlight in chloroplasts (special cells located in leaf tissue) of plants. A side element released during photosynthesis is oxygen. That is why trees are called the "lungs of the planet."
The nutrients that the plant receives from the ground through the root system also play an important role. Elements obtained from the soil, through the inner layer of the bark, lud, are transmitted throughout the tree. In the spring, when the main period of tree growth begins (vegetative period), some people make incisions on the trunks of birch in order to obtain birch sap. You should be aware that such actions can seriously damage the tree and even cause its death.
Coniferous forests, unlike deciduous, do not drop foliage and can grow year-round. The needles are covered with a thin layer of wax, allowing the plant to retain moisture. However, their growth also slows down in the cold season.
Methods for determining the age of a tree
There are two main ways to determine the age of a tree. Some of them are most accurate, and some will help to get only approximate information about the life expectancy of a tree.
The most accurate, but at the same time the most cruel way to the tree, is to count the rings that form in the wood when it grows. It is believed that one ring is equal to one year of plant life. They are formed as a result of a change in the warm and cold seasons. As a rule, rings are visible to the naked eye. If the picture cannot be distinguished, the researchers use a magnifying technique and special coloring liquids. The main disadvantage of this method of determining the life span of a tree is its death. In order to calculate the age of the tree in this way, you will have to cut it almost at the very base.
Another, more humane, way is to count the tiers of branches on a tree - whorls. Scientists claim that one whorl is equal to one year of a tree's life. To obtain an accurate result, it is necessary to add a crown to all tiers of the tree. The disadvantage of this determination of age is the lack of clear whorls on many types of trees. This option is best suited for calculating the past years of coniferous trees.
How many different types of trees live
Different types of trees have different lifespan. Life expectancy of birch, for example, is much shorter than that of most conifers. Conifers, by the way, live much longer than deciduous. At the same time, birch usually survives many fruit trees. The life span of the oak, in turn, will exceed most conifers, and so on.
It should be understood that the growth environment plays an important role in the longevity of plants. The trees of the city live much less than they could live outside. The reason is the high pollution of air and soil.
Information on the life expectancy of trees is given in a special table. Posted on more than 20 species. The name of the tree, life expectancy and region of growth are indicated.
Title | Life span | Distribution area |
Oak | up to 1500 years | North hemisphere |
Ash | up to 350 years | Everywhere |
Aspen | up to 150 years | Europe and Asia |
Birch tree | up to 300 years | North hemisphere |
Beech | up to 500 years | Europe, North America, Asia |
Elm | up to 300 years | Central Asia, Volga region, Ural |
Poplar | up to 150 years | Everywhere |
Alder | up to 300 years | North hemisphere |
Peach | up to 15 years | Everywhere |
Apricot | up to 30 years | Everywhere |
Sea buckthorn | under 25 years old | Europe Asia |
Plum | up to 20 years | Everywhere |
Cedar pine | up to 1000 years | Europe Asia |
Fir | up to 200 years | North hemisphere |
Sequoia | up to 5000 years | North America |
Spruce | up to 600 years | North hemisphere |
Pine | up to 300 years | North hemisphere |
Larch | up to 700 years | North hemisphere |
Baobab | up to 4500 years | Tropical africa |
Apple tree | up to 40 years old | Europe Asia |
How to extend the life of a tree?
Tree longevity can be increased by following a few simple recommendations.
First, you need to know as much information about the tree as possible. Does it love the shadow or feels better in the sun. Does it require intensive watering or, conversely, practically does not need water.
Secondly, it is important to choose the right soil for the tree. If the tree is exotic, then ordinary land will most likely not suit him.
Thirdly, it is necessary to protect the tree from pests that destroy bark, wood and leaves, thereby preventing the plant from developing. Effective methods are whitewashing and spraying with special means.
What trees die from
No matter how sad this may sound, the main reason for the death of trees is man. Almost 13 million hectares of forest are cut down annually! At this rate, by the middle of the 21st century, there will be practically no trees on Earth.
The second most important cause is forest fires. Ignition occurs not only through the fault of a person, but also spontaneously. The first, of course, is much more common.
Cultivated fruit trees, in a sense, die at the hands of their masters. The paradox is that the desire to get the maximum yield from a plant catalyzes its vital activity and significantly accelerates the aging process.
Lifetime record holders
In the world there are three widely known trees, whose age has exceeded 4000 years.
Pine Methuselah, located in California, has lived for 4843 years.
The life of Prometheus, a pine tree growing on Mount Wheeler in Nevada, dates back 4864 years.
The record holder among the living trees is Tikko spruce, growing in Sweden. According to scientists, the tree has a life expectancy of 9551 years.