December 30, 2016 at 10:50 pm

When we speak of nature we get a picture of trees of different kinds with flowers, forests and insects which play an important in conserving our biological reserves. Here are a few important facts which we should be knowing about.

Petal is a part of a flower. They come in different colors, sizes and shapes. Some grow regularly as part of the flowers and some flowers grow only once in a few years depending on the type of the plant or tree. Petals play an important part in the process of pollination due to their color by attracting different insects like bees and birds. The number of petals in a flower also vary in number depending on the variety of the plant or tree.

Branch is a part of the tree where the leaves are there. They come in different sizes, shapes, heights and variations. Many of the branches  of the plants and trees have medicinal value too. They are specially grown in a glass house or a nursery too. The age of a tree can be measured by its branch. It helps in increasing food source of the tree.

Bees are the insects which pollinate trees. They are winged and play an important role as part of the food chain. Imagine a situation where this process stops. Then the other processes which ought to follow and allow the food to grow for others who depend on the plants and trees for survival is stopped. There are many different varieties of bees and so are the colonies in which the bees stay. The main bee being the queen bee and the others are workers. The taste of nectar stored by each variety of bee is also different in taste. Bee keeping is a profession pursued all over the world since early times. Bears like to taste and consume honey from these bee hives which are hexagonal in shape.

Leaves are the ones which gather sunlight to make food for trees. They conduct the process of photosyntheses. If this process is stopped the plant starves and life process of the food chain gets affected. As leaves are important, so is sunlight for this purpose. Size of leaves and their shape and thickness also vary. Some can be consumed while  others are poisonous while a few others have medicinal benefits.

The leaves of a pine tree are called needles. This tree mostly grows in regions where there is cold weather and snow. It also grows in moderate and subtropical climate. They are beautiful to look when it rains or when we have snowfall. Squirrels like the nuts of these trees.

Trees need sunlight to make their food. Leaves absorb sunlight and convert food to be fed as energy for the tree. For this sunlight plays an important role. Trees vary depending on the climatic zone and the amount of sunlight available. The amount of sunlight is what determines which type of trees find it suitable to grow in that particular area. Thus climatic conditions and zones play an important role in this aspect.

An apple is a fruit and is grown mostly in hilly regions and is very healthy. There are hundreds of varieties of apples available all over the world. Each one varies depending the tree area soil and the zone. Many are red in  color with variations and we also have green varieties of apples. There is a huge market for this fruit all over the world throughout the year.

Flowers are the colorful part of  trees that later become the fruit. Many of the flowers do the process of pollination and later become fruit and also aid in seed dispersal and growth of progeny of the particular variety of the plant or tree. A study of different flowers will through light on an interesting pattern of how seeds are present and how they are dispersed. Many flowers have medicinal properties and are also used by the  health and beauty industry.

Bark is the outer layer of the trunk. Barks of many trees are used for different purposes. Many of them are used as spices. Some of them are cut or chipped for extracting gum and rubber. They are also helpful for the purpose of grafting and serve as fodder for cattle. There are medicinal properties which are well documented too. They are an important part of the plant or tree.

Buds develop into flowers. They are beautiful to view and come in different shapes and sizes and are associated with beauty. Each of the buds of flowers of different plants are unique and work differently and take different periods to grow into a flower. Some work for single time, while others for a few times, while a still more for multiple number of times. They are an attraction for florists and photographers and people in general.

Trunk is the thick part of a tree. It is a vital part of the tree taking the whole weight till the root. Trunks keep strong and  growing as the tree ages and each tree has a different pattern of growth. They are useful for many industries, furniture, building of boats, furniture and houses. Unfortunately human population has grown manifold leading to destruction of many trees for the purpose of economic activities and in the name of so called development. It also serves as houses for birds and wildlife too.

The seeds of a pine tree come from the cone. They are a delight for squirrels and other such animals and birds. They collect them and store them as food for the rainy or snowy weather. It is a food which is a  rich source of energy during harsh weather and can be stored by animals and does not get damaged.

Wood is the building material that comes from trees. Commercial exploitation of trees and plants has taken a toll on the forests and trees have been chopped in thousands of numbers. Despite there being many laws to protect trees they are hardly implemented. Each trees wood has unique features and is used for specific purposes. Some of the trees used are ebony, red sanders, timber, teak, red wood and many more.

Trees soak water through their roots. Roots play many important roles for the trees and plants. They not only absorb water from the ground and nourish the tree but also draw minerals and other bio fertilizers from the ground like nitrogen, calcium, zinc and other essential minerals and nutrients required by each particular tree depending on its variety and the area it grows. They also hold the tree strongly to ground and support their weight and do not allow them to fall even in adverse weather. They provide trees nourishment even during times when there is no rainfall. Sap is the sticky liquid inside a tree. Roots are of many different varieties.

A seed grows into a new tree. It does the act of  maintaining the progeny or offspring of that particular kind of tree or plant. Dispersal of seed takes places by different ways. Some animals eat the fruit and the disperse them through the process of excretion allowing it to spread their area. Some others get dispersed through water and travel hundreds of miles before starting to settle down and grow. A few other get dispersed through the process of wind and float for long distances before getting down in the soil and growing into a young plant. One more variety of dispersal is through the process of getting stuck to animals on their bodies as the seeds have small spines and falling down when the animal disperses them at a different location. An interesting method of dispersal of seed is the one where the seeds burst on getting in contact with water. Thus dispersing seeds around the radius of the plant and dispersing the seeds. Thus increasing its progeny. Fruits are consumed and are healthy as the seeds have good nutritional properties too.

If we conduct a complete study it will take a big article and a long time to read. Hope this article generates some interest among readers as all of us dependent on this precious wealth which nature has provided us. And help them understand the trees and plants in a proper perspective with the importance and respect which they merit and for the important role they play in conserving the environment by providing air, food and water to the humans and wildlife and other organisms of the world.