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Surprisingly, no one has ever bothered to give the word “tree” a precise definition. It turns out that trees hold many secrets, and the average person doesn’t know much about them. Trees are far more complex than what we typically assume, and they might just astound you.
10. Onira
Have you ever imagined sitting on a massive tree trunk and sliding uncontrollably down the side of a mountain? Ridiculous question, right? But that's exactly what happens during the Onira festival in Japan, which takes place every six years. For over 1,200 years, participants have done just that. The giant trunks are used as pillars at local shrines, but tradition dictates they must be replaced every time the Chinese zodiac year of the monkey or tiger comes around (even though it's in Japan).
The logs selected for the Onira festival come from fir trees, which are chopped down and hauled by hand to their destination. Upon reaching a slope, local men jump on the logs and race down to test their courage. It’s just as perilous as it sounds, with accidents, injuries, and even fatalities occurring frequently. Yet, the event remains immensely popular, drawing more than half a million spectators. The dramatic hill-riding is just one part of a several-month-long process of moving the logs, filled with many celebrations along the way.
And yes, for those curious, there are videos.
9. Drugs Derived from Trees
You might be aware that aspirin was initially derived from willow bark, but it's certainly not the only tree-related medicine. Like all plants, trees are a treasure trove of biological compounds, making it logical that we would find chemicals in them beneficial for us. Certain chemotherapy medications are produced from yew tree clippings, and if you happen to have a yew tree in your garden in the UK, you can even donate some of it.
Another tree-derived drug is ecstasy. In Cambodia, a tree called “mreah prew phnom,” which lacks a common English name, has become critically endangered because of the illegal drug trade. Four of these trees yield a barrel of safrole oil, a key ingredient that is synthesized into pills in underground labs.
The process is risky—the distilleries used to extract oil from the roots of these trees are known to be prone to explosions. Moreover, the environmental toll is catastrophic. Not only is the tree now on the brink of extinction, but the Cambodian forests being cleared are also home to other endangered species, such as the Asian elephant. Ironically, the threats to these species appear to be largely ignored by ruthless drug cartels.
8. Deforestation Might Help Combat Global Warming
A critical environmental issue to consider when discussing illegal logging and its prevention is the broader impact on the planet. The common belief is that tree cutting contributes to global warming, which makes sense—trees absorb carbon, and when they’re destroyed, that carbon is released back into the atmosphere. But, as is often the case, the reality is far more complex.
A study by UC Davis scientists revealed that if forests are lost north of 45 degrees latitude—such as north of Montana in the US or Bordeaux in France—the net result could actually lower the planet's temperature. This is because forests absorb sunlight during the day and retain heat at night, while open spaces with snow reflect the sun's rays back into space. However, the scientists caution that forests offer many other benefits, so don’t cancel your tree-sitting plans just yet.
7. Tree Disease Fought with a Video Game
Ash dieback is a tree disease rapidly spreading across the UK. Some experts believe that London’s trees could face destruction if the outbreak reaches the city. To combat the disease, scientists have turned to mobile technology and social media. In 2012, they introduced the cleverly named AshTag, an app that allowed users to snap pictures and report the locations of infected trees.
6. The Most Dangerous Tree
The manchineel tree, native to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, holds the official Guinness World Record for the “World’s Most Dangerous Tree.” Its bark secretes a sap that causes severe skin blisters and can even blind someone if it comes into contact with their eyes. Even standing beneath the tree in the rain is risky, as the sap drips onto the skin.
The tree's fruit, known as the “beach apple” or “death apple,” may seem sweet but is incredibly painful to consume. A mere small bite can cause ulcers in the mouth and esophagus, and eating it could be fatal. The smoke from burning the manchineel’s wood can lead to blindness, and the sap was historically used to coat arrows for hunting. Nowadays, the tree is an endangered species in Florida.
5. Tree Worship
In the West today, trees are mostly associated with Christmas, but their symbolic importance dates back much further. Historically, trees have represented fertility and growth. Their grandeur, paired with their seasonal role in symbolizing death and rebirth, makes them a natural symbol. And, let’s face it—they look absolutely stunning draped in tinsel and twinkling lights.
In India, tree worship is still a traditional practice. The sacred fig, or Ficus religiosa, is named in both English and Latin for its spiritual significance. Revered in Hinduism, this tree is part of a wider belief that trees possess some level of consciousness. Various parts of trees, including their leaves, are used in prayers and religious ceremonies across India.
The Sri Maha Bodhi tree holds the distinction of being the oldest known living tree with a recorded planting date. It was planted in 288 B.C. and can be found at a Sri Lankan temple. This tree symbolizes happiness and all the elements that contribute to a long, fulfilling life.
4. The Japanese Miracle Pine
Rikuzentakata, a town on Japan's east coast, was nearly wiped out during the 2011 tsunami. Although the town had fewer than 30,000 residents, over 2,000 people lost their lives there—making up a tenth of the tsunami's total victims. Before the disaster, the coastline boasted 70,000 pine trees, which were officially designated a “Place of Scenic Beauty.” After the wave, only one tree remained standing.
This 250-year-old pine, which came to be known as the “miracle” tree, survived the initial devastation, but saltwater exposure destroyed its roots. Experts carefully removed the tree and installed synthetic roots along with a metal framework to keep it alive. Serving as a beacon of hope for the grieving community, the town's mayor, who had lost his wife in the tsunami, was quoted as saying, “The miracle pine gave us the strength and hope to carry on living.”
3. Moon Trees
In 1971, astronaut Stuart Roosa took 500 seeds with him on the Apollo 14 mission as part of his personal gear. Before his spaceflight career, Roosa was a smoke jumper—a firefighter who parachutes into burning forests to combat wildfires (because astronauts with such daring spirits clearly needed something to do before space exploration became a thing).
Roosa was given the seeds by the US Forestry Service, drawing from his past experience as a smoke jumper. The seeds traveled around the moon 34 times aboard Apollo 14’s command module, though Roosa himself never set foot on the lunar surface. When he came back to Earth, the seeds were planted, and five years later, saplings were distributed across the United States and abroad as part of the American bicentennial celebrations.
Before long, the moon trees were largely forgotten. It wasn’t until 1997 that a group of schoolchildren rediscovered them. Cannelton Elementary School in Indiana had a tree with a plaque reading “Moon Tree,” but no one knew its significance. They reached out to NASA, but even the space agency had no clue. Their curiosity led scientist Dave Williams to investigate, and he was able to uncover the fascinating history of the tree. He has since gathered information on over 50 of them, and there are likely many more around the globe. If you know of one, contact him to help piece together this forgotten tale.
If you're hoping that these moon trees might have some kind of extraterrestrial powers, we regret to inform you that they’ve been studied and found to be no different from trees grown from seeds that remained on Earth.
2. Tree Sitting
On December 10, 1997, environmental activist Julia Hill climbed a towering redwood tree in California to protest the Pacific Lumber Company’s logging practices. She remained perched there until December 23, 1999, setting the record for the longest tree sit. Tree sitting, which involves exactly what you might think, has become a favored method of protest for environmentalists across the globe.
Tree sitting is especially effective because it’s tough to arrest or remove people when they’re so high up in the trees. Protesters often tie multiple trees together with ropes, creating a kind of tree village, and local supporters aren’t hesitant to bring supplies to aid them. The strategy has been so disruptive that Oregon recently passed a law enabling logging companies to sue protestors, though a similar law that would make tree sitting a felony—punishable by up to five years in prison—failed to pass the Senate.
1. Tree Poaching
Stealing trees sounds like a major challenge. After all, trees are large, and if they aren’t, they’re likely not worth the trouble of stealing. It takes considerable resources to uproot a tree, yet it remains a surprisingly frequent crime—mainly because wood is worth a fortune.
A report from 1996 revealed that thieves were stealing an astounding $1 million worth of lumber every month in Washington State alone. In a more recent incident, criminals in Canada managed to steal a colossal, 800-year-old cedar tree in a heist that required specialized heavy-duty logging equipment. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated issue, and it continues to pose a significant threat to national parks across the US.
In a twist of irony, science has given authorities a tool to catch these timber thieves. Just like humans, trees have DNA fingerprints, which can be used to track down stolen timber. In Indiana, investigators were able to link the DNA of a tree stump to logs found at a lumber mill. However, the problem remains that many landowners don’t realize their trees are missing until much later, making it difficult to deter poachers.
