The tantalizing tales of tress

By Eric Sindabi

1. Environmental lovers and other stakeholders have always applied trees in their gestures to conserve the environment and other related programmes .For example we at Egerton engage in an annual tree planting environmental activity like the one that took place recently in all the campuses. However a lot about trees is left undesired. According to reference sources trees are man’s best environmental friend. People think of trees as if they will live always. Year after year, generation after generation, for trees beautify man’s environment. Old trees shade houses and city streets from the sun. Their buds and flowers are signs of seasons. World medicinmen extract specimens from tree, leaves, bucks and roots. Their flowers turn to fruits for animal and human food. Mills and factories reap millions from tree trunks, bucks and other parts. Trees continue to grow as long as they live.


2. The term tree means larger plant according to botanic science. Trees live longer than any other plant species. While scientific research indicates that trees are the oldest non-living things , first from man and animals. For example the world’s largest living thing is the Sherman tree found in the sequoia National Park in California. It measures 272 feet in length and 36 feet width .The travelers tree which grows in Malagasy can store up to pints of water in its long leaf stalks. On the other hand the tallest tree of the world are the Californian red woods ranching between 300-400 feet long .


3. The ombu tree of Argentina has been termed the world’s hardest tree species. It survives without water while it cannot be cut down nor burnt out. It survives violent storms, intense heat and insect attacks. Addingly the African famous baobab is one of the most useful tree of the world. It has a huge trunk, which can store water or form tree houses after hollowing .T he trees leaves are used as vegetables and medical herbs .The fruits, seeds and roots are all used in various domestic needs.


4. About 30 million years ago, Botanist say there were many more trees species than the ones growing today. For example scientist believe that some deserts, oasis, swamps, mountains and forest growing tree species have died out. Trees fossils research has shown that some minerals and forest resources contains tree fossils of many tree fossils of many tree species that died over more than hundred million years ago. For example coal deposit and petrified forests have been found to contain tree fossils. Some of these tree species have been identified as club moss tree and horsetail trees that grew in coal forming swamps while modern ones are herbs. Man has helped tree life Continuation by conserving the environment and replacing trees for many purposes and from one climatic condition to another .In Kenya , for example we have both indigenous and exotic trees. Some hundred years ago, eulycaptus trees grew only in Australia but today, many eucalyptuses beautify cities, hills, parks and forests all over the world. Home owners all over the world plant various tree species for shade, decorations commercial windbreakers or for fruit harvest. End