The 1,000-Year-Old Sacred Tree
In human society, elders over the age of 100 are respectfully referred to as "centenarians". In the plant kingdom, however, a hundred years is similar to a casual event. Only trees that have lived for 1,000 years or more are considered worthy of attention. Giant trees that are at least a 1,000 years old and have a circumference of over 10 metres are revered as "sacred trees". Conservative estimates suggest that the oldest sacred trees on Earth are over 5,000 years old. How could they have managed to survive the test of time for thousands of years?
Grandidier's Baobabs
Grandidier's Baobabs (Adansonia Grandidieri) are the most iconic sacred trees in Madagascar, Africa, and the most ancient one is nearly 3,000 years old. They have a unique appearance, with straight and thick trunks, but proportionally small canopies. There is a local legend that says that these trees were punished by the gods and planted upside down, hence they look like their roots are reaching for the sky! In reality, their trunks are so large because they have adapted to the dry climate. The wood density of their trunks is extremely low. About 80% of the space can be used to store water, functioning like a giant water tank. By storing enough water, they can safely survive each and every dry season!
Through radiocarbon dating analysis, it has been found that the outermost annual rings of some baobab trees are actually over 100 years old, indicating that they have stopped growing for long periods of time. Botanists believe that this is a "dormancy mechanism" triggered by the trees to cope with extreme harsh climates, meaning that they deliberately “stop” growing in order to survive. (Click here to learn about diapause in the animal kingdom)
Patagonian Cypress
The Patagonian Cypress (Fitzroya cupressoides) are cypress trees unique to the southern rainforests of South America. They are also the largest and oldest sacred trees in South America, with an estimated tree age of up to 5,000 years. In contrast to Grandidier's Baobabs, the Patagonian Cypress does not worry about water scarcity. Instead, they fear too much rain, which makes their environment humid and particularly susceptible to fungal attack. As a result, they have developed a natural immune system that is capable of producing special secondary metabolites and lignans, which are substances with anti-biodegradation and antiproliferative properties, respectively, and can prevent most fungal infections. The Chileans have long known how to use the properties of the Patagonian Cypress, extracting Patagonian Cypress wood to make anti-inflammatory medications, which are particularly effective in promoting wound healing.
The Patagonian Cypress grows slowly. Their long lifespan and giant trunk make them one of the rainforest tree species with the highest carbon sink efficiency, and they are an important species for mitigating modern climate change issues. By analysing their growth history, they can help reveal major climate changes in the earth's history over the past thousands of years, making significant contributions to climate change research.
Formosan Red Cypress
The Formosan Red Cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis) is a sacred tree unique to Taiwan and belongs to the same family as the Patagonian Cypress. In addition to sharing the same immune system that inhibits fungal growth as the Patagonian Cypress, research has also found that the secondary metabolites produced by the Formosan Red Cypress have the ability to resist termites and other pests. Therefore, the Formosan Red Cypress can be said to embody all the advantages of high-quality wood - rot-resistant, moisture-resistant, and insect-resistant. Its wood is also lightweight and has a pleasant fragrance, making it a valuable material for processed wood and essential oils.
During the Japanese colonial period of Taiwan, the colonial government forcibly plundered the sacred tree resources, massively logging the native Formosan Red Cypress and exporting them abroad for profit. The indigenous people of Alishan put up fierce resistance, as they have traditionally believed these sacred trees to be ancestral spirits, holding them in reverence and respect. The Formosan Red Cypress sacred trees that have survived to this day came at the cost of the blood of the tribesmen at that time.
Hong Kong's forests were also plundered by the Japanese army in the past. There is a famous camphor tree in the Lai Chi Wo Village in the northeastern region - the Five-fingered Camphor. It is said that it was also favoured by the Japanese army, but fortunately, it was also fiercely protected by the villagers at that time. The ancient trees in Hong Kong (Click here to learn more), including this "Five-fingered Camphor", are only a few hundred years old, which is still a long way from being considered "sacred trees". However, as long as Hong Kong's countryside can be sustainably developed, our future generations will surely have the opportunity to see native sacred trees locally, and take pride in their ancestors' efforts to protect these natural landscapes!
