23.1 Specialized Tissues in Plants
23.2 Roots
23.3 Stems
23.4 Leaves
23.5 Transport in Plants
THE HOLLOW TREE
As you hike through a Central American rain forest on a steamy afternoon on the last day of your tropical vacation, you see many unusual plants and animals. A monkey calls from a distant tree, and a dense fog covers the landscape. Then you stumble on a root and look up. A massive tree stands before you. Its trunk seems to be made up of many intertwined woody branches. Edging closer, you nervously slip your head through one of the larger gaps and look straight up. Inside, you find that the tree is completely hollow.
This tree, a species of fig, is indeed unusual. What happened to the interior of the tree? And how did the tree grow to such a great height if it has no center? As you read this chapter, look for clues that explain the structure of this strange plant. Then, solve the mystery.
Never Stop Exploring Your World.
Finding the solution to The Hollow Tree mystery is only the beginning. Take a video field trip with the ecogeeks of Untamed Science to see where the mystery leads.