Trees and there importance to life on Earth

Treeadmin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:18:26 +0000

Trees have been developing ever since the first seaweed evolved enough to survive outside its watery environment on dry land, perhaps as long ago as 1.2 billion years, certainly the oldest known fossel of the earliest first trees were the archaeopteris which first appeared approx 370 million ago, although not having the ability to have growth rings, they were more like giants ferns growing to heights as much as 50m.

True modern trees began to appear in the fossil record approx 299 million years ago with the first proper trees although fairly small not growing beyond 10m, these were the gymnosperms, which later developed into the coniferous trees. The angiosperms or flowering broadleave trees appeared in the fossil records approx 270 million years ago. Both species of trees have been evolving and diversyvying ever since with an estimated 100,000 different species of trees now growing on Earth today.

Trees have become a vital component of life on Earth, tree roots break up rock, producing a range of enzynes to break down rocks and produce soil. Trees protect soils from being washed and leached away by holding soils together with its multitude and long lasting roots, tress collect minerals through its roots that are out the reach of other plants and by then using this in their growth and releasing to the surface with their demise, trees provide nutrients for other plants to prosper.

Tree Health Care

Trees and there importance to life on Earth