Plant Minds: Exploring the Marvels of Flora’s Kingdom, Part 1 of 2

Plants are miraculous living beings. The enchanting beauty of our planet owes much to them. They grace every corner of our Earth, exhibiting a captivating diversity in form and stature while holding an indispensable role in the planet’s biosphere.

Unlike humans and other creatures, plants possess the unique ability to produce their food through photosynthesis. They stand as benevolent providers, bestowing sustenance upon all lifeforms on Earth, whether directly or indirectly. Plants are the sources of nutrition, clean air, medicine, habitats, and ecosystem functions. These remarkable virtues have earned the plants the title of “the Quiet Rulers” of our planet.

Plants have graced the Earth for over a billion years. Is it still possible to envision the appearance of the earliest land plants? An educational documentary, “Plants, Earth’s Quiet Rulers,” provides vivid images of Earth’s early land plant ancestors.

The oldest tree identified on Earth so far is a 30.5 meter (100 feet) tall Alerce, estimated to be 5,480 years old, standing in a secluded valley in Chile. Climate scientist Jonathan Barichivich measures the tree rings using a special drill to extract a 5-millimeter sample from the tree’s radius. He then builds a digital model based on it. Professor Barichivich believes that ancient trees hold the clues to the life and death of the planet’s future, emphasizing the urgent need to protect these remnants of the original Earth.

As esteemed Earth family members, plants have dutifully preserved cosmic signatures engraved on our planet. Trees excel in this noble task with their mystical aura of wisdom, towering stature, and communicative prowess. In Norse mythology, the revered World Tree known as Yggdrasill holds pivotal importance, serving as the axis of the cosmos, bridging realms above and below, and nourishing gods, humans, and animal-people alike. Similarly, the cosmic tree in Sanskrit tradition, Asvattha, symbolizes the living universe, with roots ascending skyward and branches embracing the Earth below. Today, these mythical messages within trees have become subjects of scientific study.