The Mysteries of moving water &

Trees age gracefully

Chapter 10
Ayushi Arora

Source : The hidden life of trees

Author : Peter Wohlleben
How does water reach throughout the tree from
roots to the crown?

 There are three ways due to which

the water transportation takes places
in the trees.
1. Capillary action
2. Transpiration
3. Osmosis
e.g : diameter of the water tubes in
Deciduous is 0.02 inches
Coniferous is 0.0008 inches
Transpiration does not allow the water to completely reach to the crown, because it only
allows till 900 mm at most.

Hence, osmosis comes into action, where the cells with more concentration of sugar helps the
water to rise up, to the more sugary solution.

From cell to another cell, it reaches till the crown.

Fact : As the water pressure rises up during the spring

season, while opening of the leaves, maple syrup in
Canada and California is acquired during that time.

The dilemma continues when autumn and winter arrive, leaves shed and transpiration
are unable to take place. As explained by the author : The water is stored in trunk while
the capillary action, it pumps so much that diameter of the trunk increases.
There is bubbling sound made by the trees, during droughts or
autumn, while sucking water from the ground, air also comes in
the form CO2 which starts to create such noises. But, in such
cases Osmosis, Transpiration fail.

Hence, it still remains a mystery unanswered, that how does

throughout the year trees get sufficient water even in absence
of processes, leaves etc.
Trees age gracefully!
When we will be 60, old, wrinkled and
pale, Trees also grow old with the
same kind of ability in a different
manner.
Bark of the tree Separation of a bark
They loose skin, 0.5 ounces a day, just
like humans do.
Different trees age in various manner,
while some age at 50 years, others
have smooth bark till 100 years old.

Bark is the metaphorical skin of the

tree. So, insects in the bark, taking up
moisture are not perfect for the
survival of trees.
While the separation from the bark of
the tree is just as uncomfortable as a
wound to our skin.
Insects on a tree
The girth adding could harm the bark, so the skin is
renewed after intervals.

The age of the tree is determined by the species

of the tree.
For eg. Pines, Oak and Douglas get old early and
are said to shed so rarely that their bark becomes
hefty being 70-100 years old

while others like Beeches whose silver grey have

smooth bark till 100 years.

1. Rapid Renewal time of skin

Mosses colonize the nooks and crannies take up the moisture and then greenery
starts to grow on it, by which the age of a beech tree is determined.

Sometimes due to the exposure of sun, the bark of the tree becomes hard and
inclined to crack.
Tree Diseases

 When there are thousands of pits and pustules, that don’t disappear is when
the disease is identified.
 Bacteria move into these damp areas and stain them black.
 large quantities of moss on the branches and in the branch forks of trees of
this advanced age. Blue-green algae had colonized the trees’ mossy cushions.
 The algae capture nitrogen from the air and process it into a form the trees
can use. Rain then washes this natural fertilizer down the trunks, making it
available to the roots. Thus, old trees fertilize the forest and help their
offspring get a better start in life.
 They catch diseases, like arthritis which leads to shorter plantation and small
foliage curving up. Some start growing slowly, while others all together stop
growing.
 The energy level gets lower, hence the height is not maintained throughout
the age. Once, the trees age, the fungi enter, into their body and heart
sulking up the nutrition, cellulite and slowly decomposing them.
The story of a tree which dying, giving space to
the younger generation to come.

The rotting cadaver continues to play an

important role in the ecosystem for hundreds of
years.

Since, the graceful aging comes to an end the

role of trees don’t, even their remains serve the
ecosystem.