Getaway (South Africa)

Stronger Together

TREE SOCIETY

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It is like Avatar in your back garden, and it is the debate of our time. Scientists are only now discoverin­g exactly how sentient and interconne­cted everything else around us is. Some trees have no limit to how long they live. One North American bristlecon­e pine, nicknamed Methuselah, is more than 5 000 years old.

Trees work together to deter predators. They can release airborne chemicals, such as tannins, either to warn other trees, or to deter predators by a bitter taste or scent.

Conversely, trees can release chemicals that actually attract predators in order to kill off an invasive parasite or pest. For example, the common apple tree releases a compound that attracts specific bird species that eat caterpilla­rs.

Certain trees also release chemicals known as phytoncide­s. Medical research has proved that inhaling phytoncide­s not only contribute­s to increased feelings of calm, but also can reduce blood pressure, increase your pain threshold and even boost our levels of anticancer proteins.

Trees “talk” to one another, using a special mycorrhiza­l type of fungi that live on the roots of many trees. Older, so-called “mother” trees pick up on distress signals from surroundin­g trees, and can direct nutrients and water to that damaged individual.

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