In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated
stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves in most species. In some usages,
the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary
growth, plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a specified height.
Trees are not a taxonomic group but include a variety of plant species that
have independently evolved a woody trunk and branches as a way to tower above
other plants to compete for sunlight. Trees tend to be long-lived, some
reaching several thousand years old. In wider definitions, the taller palms,
tree ferns, bananas, and bamboos are also trees. Trees have been in existence
for 370 million years. It is estimated that there are just over 3 trillion
mature trees in the world.
A tree typically has many secondary branches supported clear
of the ground by the trunk. This trunk typically contains woody tissue for
strength, and vascular tissue to carry materials from one part of the tree to
another. For most trees it is surrounded by a layer of bark which serves as a
protective barrier. Below the ground, the roots branch and spread out widely;
they serve to anchor the tree and extract moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Above ground, the branches divide into smaller branches and shoots. The shoots
typically bear leaves, which capture light energy and convert it into sugars by
photosynthesis, providing the food for the tree's growth and development.

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