6 Facts About Trees you Probably Didn’t Know
Trees. There are more than 3 trillion of them and without their existence we wouldn’t be able to survive. They have been around for more than 360 million years and each year we find more. When it comes to trees, there are literally thousands of things to be learnt. The scary thing is, that we haven’t even learnt half of them! Many things we’re still discovering each day. In response to this, we’ve put together 6 Facts About Trees you Probably Didn’t Know.
1. There are more than 60,000 types of trees in the world
Considering most people only know a couple of types of trees, having 60,000 species is something immense (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39492977). This number staggers most people. It makes it even harder for them to understand when they realise that this figure actually rises each year.
2. An average tree can consume up to 350 litres of water per day
Yes, 350 litres. Who would have thought trees would be so thirsty. An average human is supposed to consume 2 litres of water per day and we rarely do that. A tree consumes 175x this!
3. Pine trees grow on all but one continent
With the exception of Antarctica, Pine trees grow on every other continent. Their ability to adapt and grow under various conditions allows them to populate on so many continents.
4. Over 5,000 products are made from trees
Our dependence on trees lies not only in their ability to provide us with clean, fresh air but it’s also in the products we’re able to make from them. Over the world, it’s been recorded that we produce over 5,000 products from these magnificent resources.
5. 6 billion trees are planted in the USA each year
Although we’re unsure of the numbers for the whole world, in the USA alone, it’s reported that they plant 1.6 billion trees each year. That’s a lot of trees! It’s almost 6 trees per person.
6. The age of a tree can be determined by the number of growth rings it has
If you’re unsure of when a tree was planted you can always check it’s age by counting the number of growth rings that are on the trunk. This method is a little invasive though as it requires you cut the tree down. This method is generally used on trees that are dead or dying.
And so there you have it! We hope that you’ve enjoyed our 6 Facts About Trees you Probably Didn’t Know. Maybe you’ve leant something new! If there’s something that you’d like to add, feel free to include it in the comments section below.
