Socratea exorrhiza: The Only Mobile Tree in the World The complex root system of this tree functions like legs, enabling it to continuously move towards sunlight as the seasons change.
Socratea exorrhiza is a type of palm tree that thrives in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, particularly in Ecuador. It is nicknamed “the walking tree” due to its unique root structure, which has baffled scientists. The tree’s roots grow in an unusual manner, extending several feet above the ground from the base of the trunk.
It is said that the “walking tree” can move from shade to sunlight by sprouting new roots in the direction of the light, while older roots gradually lift from the ground and die off.
This process may take several years, but some paleobotanists suggest that the tree can “walk” about 2 to 3 centimeters each day, or roughly 20 meters per year. While this distance may seem minimal, it is quite substantial for the “marathon” of a palm tree.
This is the only mobile tree in the world.
The tree moves 20m/year.
This palm tree lives in tropical rainforests.
In 1980, John H. Bodley suggested that the aging roots of the tree allow Socratea exorrhiza to “walk” away from its sprouting point. Whether this is true or not, the unusual root system of this species extends about 1 meter from the trunk above the ground, adding to the “illusion” of a tree with legs.
Peter Vrsansky, a paleobotanist from the Slovak Academy of Sciences who worked for several months at the UNESCO Sumaco Biosphere, explained: “When the soil erodes, the tree sprouts new, long roots that seek out new and more stable ground. Gradually, as the roots anchor into the new soil, the tree bends towards the new roots, while the old roots slowly wither and die. The entire process of moving to a new location with better sunlight and more stable ground can take several years.”
The “walking trees” in Ecuador have higher roots than other trees, starting near the end of their trunks. This gives the tree a more broom-like appearance rather than that of an actual tree. As the surrounding soil erodes, some of these peculiar roots will die off, making way for new roots to form.
Scientists remain uncertain about the role of the roots that sprout from the trunk. Some believe they provide stability, while others think they allow the tree to grow taller without increasing the trunk diameter. These hypotheses remain unproven.
Many different epiphytic species have been found to grow on S. exorrhiza.
So, after all, it is perhaps the unusual appearance of these trees that has led tour guides to concoct stories suggesting that these trees can move on their own, adding a little spice to their presentations. This conclusion is further emphasized by the fact that if you perform a quick search, you will not find any time-lapse videos showing one of these trees actually “walking.”
Various epiphytic species have been found to grow on S. exorrhiza. A study of 118 individual trees in Panama found 66 species among 15 genera living on them. Bryophyte moss covers up to 30% of the trunk, with coverage increasing as trunk diameter increases. About half of the studied trees had vascular tissue growing on them. Up to 85 individuals from 12 different species were found on one palm tree, while another tree was occupied by a total of 16 different species. The most common epiphytic species were three types of ferns: Ananthacorus angustifolius, Elaphoglossum sporadolepis, and Dicranoglossum panamense, accounting for 30% of the recorded individuals. Other common species, making up more than 5% of the individuals found, include Scaphyglottis longicaulis (Orchidaceae), Philodendron schottianum (Araceae), and Guzmania subcorymbosa (Bromeliaceae). Nearly half of the recorded species are considered very rare, with only 1 to 3 individuals recorded across all S. exorrhiza.
