The Tree Remember: The Incredible Memory of Trees

For many years, the common assumption was that trees were simple, unthinking organisms – living but not conscious beings. However, groundbreaking new research is challenging this idea and revealing that trees may possess remarkable cognitive abilities, including MEMORY.

Italian biologist Monica Gagliano has conducted fascinating experiments showing trees can learn and remember information. In one study, Gagliano taught eucalyptus seedlings to associate different sounds with either sweet or bitter flavors. When later played the noises alone, the trees increased water flow to prepare for the taste. This demonstrated they remembered the meanings of each sound over time. 

Gagliano also found that stressed trees can communicate chemical warnings to others via underground root networks, acting almost like a social memory bank. Neighboring trees facing no threats increased defenses upon receiving these “alarm” messages. Their responses suggested longterm recollection of past attacks based on collective information sharing.

So in essence, trees have an evolutionary ability to store memories at an individual and interconnected network level. When considering their longevity, some trees may accumulate recollections over centuries! This challenges the perception of trees as immutable and underscores their intelligence as lifeforms.

For humans, the prospect that trees remember us and our past actions presents an opportunity for reflection. As we plant more trees and reforest areas, we should do so mindful that these sentient beings may hold memories of previous interactions, whether positive or negative. By treating trees and forests with care, respect and protection, we can build a lasting legacy of relationships premised on coexistence rather than exploitation. 

Our children and future generations dependent on forests will, in turn, be remembered by trees planted today. What stories and feelings will these silent sentinels pass down? The choice is ours to make through conscious environmental stewardship and care for all living beings on this shared planet.

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