Parts of a tree and its functions

The roots are the part of the tree that grows underground and, sometimes, superficial. The Tree roots functions They are varied, but the main ones are two:

• COLLECTION OF Water and minerals.
• Provide the tree Support and anchor.

Until the plants did not start developing strong and deep rootscapable of providing a firm support point, they could not form large aerial structures, since their weight and the incidence of elements, such as wind, could make them very easy for them to be torn off. Currently, however, large colossi such as the Secuoya or the Baobab are sustained firmly thanks to the anchor of its roots, which allows the existence of very different types of trees.

The nutrient capture function of the roots of a tree is done by means of the absorbent hairs of these, exactly the same with the other plants. The roots absorb the necessary water and minerals, which transport to the trunk so that it is responsible for distribution.

It should be said that The roots are constantly growingexcept in the coldest times, and that only the newest parts are those that work absorbing nutrients. To maximize their ability to capture minerals, many trees develop symbiotic relationships with fungi and microorrizas. Thanks to these, the tree gets soil minerals more easily, in exchange for providing the fungus with sugars. In fact, the reason why many trees do not develop well in alkaline soils is because these are not suitable for fungi of this type.

We recommend expanding this information with this other article in which we speak more thoroughly about the parts of the root and its functions and with this other post about the types of roots.

The trunk is probably the most characteristic part of the tree and which makes us easily identify as such. The tree trunk has two functions Main:

• Hold the aerial part of the tree.
• Transport water and nutrients among its different parts.

And much more than a simple woody column and also has different parts. The parts of the trunk and its functions are:

• The bark and the phloem They are the outer layers of the trunk and the branches. It is a protective cover that is responsible for protecting new wood, and at the same time of transporting the enriched sap, both ascending and descending.
• THE CAMBIUM It is a fine film between the sapwood and the cortex, which is responsible for producing the new layers of trunk that occur in each time of growth. It is an essential part of the tree, because without it you cannot continue to develop and die. In dicotyledonous plants, the growth of each year leaves a mark in the sapwood, the so -called growth rings.
• Albura and Xilema It is the part of young and living wood. It is full of conductive vessels that work exclusively ascending, carrying the gross sap to the leaves. In this link you will find more information about what is xylem and its function.
• The Duramen It is formed by hard wooden cells, which provide the tree resistance to pests and firm support. It is darker than xylem.
• The marrowFinally, it consists of dead or weakened cells and is located in the exact center of the tree. It is very dark and can be of different textures according to the tree in particular and the age of this.

All these parts are shared by The tree branchesespecially the thickest, which extend looking to cover as much sunscreen for the leaves.

We keep talking about the different parts of a tree and its functions and we stop in one of the parts that can most vary from one kind of tree to another and by which it is easier to identify them; The leaves of the trees.

The leaves They are the part where the tree manufactures food From the minerals and water that the roots bring up to these, remember that the trees are autotrophic organisms or that manufacture their own food or organic matter from inorganic matter. This process is possible thanks to Chlorophyll present in the leaves, which gives them their characteristic green color and makes it possible to carry out Photosynthesis. Learn more about what chlorophyll is and about the difference between photosynthesis and breathing of plants with these other posts of ecology.

The leaves, in addition, allow the Water evaporation Sobrante of the photosynthesis process, which helps establish a negative pressure for the transport of gross sap from the roots.

Some leaves are expired, so the tree reabsorbs its nutrients before letting them dry in cold times, while others are perennial and stay all year. The leaves usually grow in the high air area of ​​the tree. What is the name of the highest part of a tree? Simply cup Or, we call it top if we refer exclusively to the tip.

If you want to discover more about these parts of a tree, here you can know the different types of leaves and here learn more about the parts of a sheet and their functions.

Finally, there are flowers, fruits, seeds and cones of trees. These comply with a reproductive function In different ways, but its objective is the same: carry the seeds as far as possible from the progenitor tree, in order to favor greater colonization.

Know more about some of these parts with these other posts about the parts of the seed and their functions, parts of the fruit and their functions and what are the parts of a flower and their functions. In addition, we recommend you learn more about plant reproduction with this article on the reproduction of plants.

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