Trees hold a special place in our hearts, as they possess a longevity that surpasses most other creatures. These remarkable organisms can live for thousands upon thousands of years.1 In fact, the oldest recorded tree boasted an incredible age of over five thousand years! Its roots reached back to a time when Rome stood at the peak of its glory-an inspiring testament to the longevity of trees, making them some of the oldest living beings on our planet.
We acknowledge that trees are alive, for they harness energy to sustain their existence. Though they lack the organs found in mammals, trees possess their own unique set of structures that enable their survival. But being alive, do they possess a heartbeat?
Mystery of the Heartbeat
While trees do not possess a heart in the same way humans do, the idea of them having their own rhythm and pulsation is not as far-fetched as it might seem. A recent study conducted by András Zlinszky, Bence Molnár, and Anders S. Barfod from Hungary and Denmark has shed light on an extraordinary aspect of trees-they possess a special type of pulsation akin to a heartbeat.
Using advanced monitoring techniques called “terrestrial laser scanning,” the researchers carefully observed the movements of over twenty different tree species. The investigation revealed something stunning: while trees slumber through the night, their bodies pulse in rhythm, akin to a heartbeat.
These pulses are responsible for moving water throughout the tree’s structure, much like the heart’s role in pumping blood through our bodies. This groundbreaking discovery challenges the long-held assumption that trees solely rely on osmosis for water distribution. Truly an amazing finding! These tree heartbeats occur at an incredibly slow pace, with some pulses taking hours to repeat. Their gentle nature renders them invisible to the human eye. Nature never ceases to amaze!
The study also shed light on another fact-trees engage in more movement than previously believed. Numerous tree species were observed to lower their branches by up to 10cm after sunset, a phenomenon that occurs during their sleep and is referred to as “circadian leaf movements.”
While this study provided scientists with valuable insights, there are still many questions that need to be answered. The precise workings of the tree’s heartbeat and water distribution mechanisms remain elusive, meaning we need further research to fully understand these processes. Who knows what other wonders we may uncover in the realm of trees and plant life? Recent research has even shown that plants and trees possess the ability to feel pain and emit distress signals when harmed, completely changing our prior beliefs. It is clear there is still much yet to learn and how nature continually surprises us with its workings.
The Hidden Movement of Trees
Contrary to their seemingly static nature, trees exhibit a remarkable amount of motion, as recent research has shown. While not all trees in the study showed a defined sleep cycle with lowered branches at night, the researchers observed that all trees exhibited minute and periodic pulsations. These findings suggest that trees actively pump water, acting as natural hydraulic systems.
Due to the gradual nature of these movements, these movements often go unnoticed by the naked eye. However, this surprising revelation showed that different types of trees engage in periodic movements, regardless of sleep patterns. The researchers detected previously unknown movements of up to 1cm, occurring in cycles lasting two to six hours. These movements are believed to be linked to changes in water pressure within the plants, meaning a pumping system is at work inside.
It was also noted that while all trees showed minute branch movements, only seven species demonstrated distinct sleep motions. Additionally, the length of sleep periods varied, with some trees exhibiting shorter or longer cycles. Some trees showed slow and constant movements in one direction. Factors such as disease and environmental conditions likely contribute to the motions seen.
Among the various tree species studied, the Magnolia tree exhibited the most striking movement, undergoing three complete up-and-down cycles in a single night. These short-term movements of trees correspond to changes in water pressure within their structures.
The researchers concluded that the barely seen movements of trees and other plants could serve as crucial indicators of their health. Detecting changes in overnight movements may prove to be an effective tool for noting crop stress or disease, making it easier to help earlier and use more environmentally friendly solutions.
Furthermore, trees exhibit a range of oscillating cycles similar to circadian rhythms. Many processes within trees follow distinct cycles, often lasting 24 hours, such as the opening and closing of stomata.3 Some oscillations occur annually, such as the shedding of leaves. These cycles are primarily driven by light and atmospheric conditions. Trees respond to environmental changes by adjusting their transpiration rates throughout the day, increasing water loss in the morning and decreasing it during the afternoon and night. Accompanying these changes is the slow, rhythmic pulse observed in the diameter of the tree’s stem.
The Origin of A Tree’s Heartbeat
Nearly a century ago, reports of a tree’s pulse surfaced during experiments conducted by forest scientists to measure stem growth. In 1932, Lester Henry Reineke invented the first precision dendrometer, a device used to measure the girth of a tree’s stem. Using this instrument, researchers discovered that tree stems contract during the day and expand at night due to fluctuations in water stored within their tissues.
Recent research has found that the pulse primarily originates from diameter fluctuations in the bark, a surprising revelation considering the traditional belief that bark is separate from the tree’s transpiration stream. To unravel this mystery, scientists have delved into the composition and function of the bark.
The bark comprises a dead outer layer and a living inner section housing a transport system called the phloem. The phloem transports sugars produced during photosynthesis in the leaves to other tissues in need of energy. This transportation process leads to a downward flow of sugar-rich sap toward the roots. Water serves as the transport medium for these sugars, and under specific conditions, water can be drawn out of the phloem and into the tree’s transpiration stream.
Thus, despite lacking a traditional heart, trees possess their unique pulse. To truly experience this phenomenon, one must sit next to a tree, observing its movements over an extended period-a remarkable reminder of the hidden wonders surrounding us in the natural world.
The Premier Daily
