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 Trees: Magnificent Structures of the Natural World
 Fathom
Seminar Introduction
introTrees are perhaps the most familiar of all organisms. They grow all around us, in towns as well as in the countryside, and most people can recognise a few species. Not only are trees the largest organisms that have ever lived--some giant redwoods are ten times heavier than a full-grown blue whale--but they have also dominated dry land for over 300 million years, far longer than the dinosaurs or mammals. In this seminar Roland Ennos, lecturer in biomechanics at the University of Manchester and author of Trees, investigates the structure of trees; how they are built and how they work. By looking at trees as living organisms, struggling for survival in a hostile world, we can start to appreciate not only their beauty, but also the sheer ingenuity of their structures and lifestyles.
Learning Objectives
  • Understand why trees are such successful plants.
  • Describe the wood structures of conifers and angiosperms and explain how the differences affect their abilities to lift water.
  • Analyse why wood is so well designed and how it helps trees to stand up.
  • Explore the ways in which wind can affect tree growth.
  • Compare four hypotheses which suggest the key factors that limit the height of trees.


    Sessions

    Session 1 The Advantages of Being a Tree
    Session 2 How Trees Lift Water
    Session 3 How Trees Stand Up: Wood
    Session 4 How Trees Stand Up: Shoots, Roots and Growth Responses
    Session 5 Limits to the Heights of Trees
    Contributors


    Credits

    The text of this seminar is taken from Trees by Roland Ennos, published by The Natural History Museum, copyright The Natural History Museum, 2001.

    book
    Roland Ennos investigates the world of trees and sheds new light by asking simple questions. How did trees evolve? How do they stand up? Why are there so many different types? How and why do we exploit them? All these questions and more are answered in this richly illustrated book, which provides a fascinating insight into the biology of these magnificent plants.

    Trees
    Ennos, Roland
    Paperback (2001)





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