Extraordinary phenomena affecting trees are increasingly discovered. In particular in Ecuador there is a variety of trees that 'walk', or rather, which thanks to their characteristics are able to move about 20 meters per year. How is it possible?
Extraordinary phenomena affecting them are increasingly discovered trees. In particular in Ecuador there is a widespread variety of trees that 'walk', or rather, which thanks to their characteristics are able to move about 20 meters per year. How is it possible?
Plants of the species Socrates exorrhiza they are nicknamed 'movable trees'. Their complicated root system allows these trees to move constantly in search of the sun, as the different seasons follow one another.
I am able to move about 2 to 3 centimeters per day. The guides who accompany tourists in the Ecuadorian forests have been talking about their extraordinary ability to travel for years.
The most common version of the story has to do with the fact that plants move slowly day after day to chase the sun. The shape of the roots gives us the illusion that these trees may have legs.
However, not everyone is convinced of the real movement capabilities of these trees, given that for science part of the phenomenon would still remain a mystery, one of many secrets of nature which would be really fascinating to explore.
That of the walking trees could simply represent a legend, yet in Ecuador the phenomenon is described as real enough to attract the attention of international scholars.
Peter Vrsansky, paleontologist at the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava, argues that these trees are really able to move thanks to the displacements of their roots.
What do you think? Have you ever been to Ecuador to admire the trees that walk?
Marta Albè
Photo font: BBC
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