8.9.25 - Part 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to Reised Children's Story Hour. It's a
reminder is a reading service intended for people who are
blind or of other disabilities that make it difficult to
reprinted materials. Today we will be reading from various books
on trees. Your reader today is Diane. We will begin
with a book, The Magic and Mystery of Trees. It

(00:25):
was published by Penguin DK, a division of Penguin Random House,
and it's a copyright year of twenty nineteen and the
author is Jin Green. What is a tree? A tree
is a huge plant that towers above us. You find

(00:47):
trees standing alone in people's yards, are clustered together in
thick forest. Trees are true wonders of nature. Some species
can grow taller than fifty cars stacked on top of
each other. Trees can live for hundreds of years, and
the very oldest are thousands of years old. Every part
of a tree works together, from the deepest roots that

(01:10):
burrow through the earth to the smallest leaf on the
highest branch. Every part of a tree is working hard
to help it survive. When you get to know these
silent giants, you'll never look at trees the same way again.
Where in the world from rocky coast to lush valleys.

(01:31):
Trees are found almost everywhere forests or places where many
trees grow together. Ken's most famous tree, the maple, produces
maple syrup. The world's tallest trees, redwoods live in western
North America. The biggest rainforest in the world is the

(01:51):
Amazon in South America. Tropical rainforests grow close to the
equator around the Earth's middle, where it is very hot
all year round. Monkey puzzle trees grow in Chili at
the tip of South America. Broadly forests to grow in
parts of North America and Europe with mild climates. Forest types.

(02:14):
There are three main types of forest, broadly forest, conifer forest,
and rainforest. Each of these forests is made up of
different types of trees. A huge conifer forest stretches across
northern North America, Russia, and northern Europe. These places have long,

(02:34):
snowy winters. Coconut seeds can float for miles before finding
a place to grow. Eucalyptus of gum trees grow in
Australia's dry forest. They keep their leaves all year round.
Carie pines live only in New Zealand. They can get

(02:54):
very old and large forests cover almost a third of
Earth's dry land. How trees live? You've never seen a
tree eat a bowl of noodles or a peanut butter sandwich,
So what do they eat? As long as it has sunlight, water,
and a gas called carbon dioxide, a tree can live, grow,

(03:18):
and even make its own foods. The amazing food making
process of plants is called photosynthesis. Trees are tough, but
they must stay warm to survive. The water and the
trees leaves freezes, it can't make food for itself. Mil time,
a tree's green leaves soak up light from the sun.

(03:40):
Then they use energy from the light to mix carbon
dioxide and water. This makes a sugary liquid called sap,
which is the tree's food, making oxygen. While they are
busy making sap, the trees leaves give off a gas
caught oxygen. All animals include us breathe in oxygen and

(04:02):
breathe out carbon dioxide. There were no plants such as trees,
we wouldn't have air to breathe. Summer days, broad leave
trees only make food in spring and summer because there
is more sunlight. They lose their leaves in the fall.
Conifers can have leaves or needles. They keep making food

(04:23):
throughout the winter types of trees. With so many trees
growing around the world, it can be tricky to tell
one leafy plant from another. Luckily, there are only two
main families of trees, broad leave trees and conifers. Broad
leaves have wide, flat leaves. They all make flowers, although

(04:45):
some are almost too small to see. Their seeds ripen
inside juicy fruits such as plums or figs. Most broad
leaved trees drop their leaves and fall and grow new
ones in the spring. Conifer have long, thin leaves called needles.
Many conifers are called evergreens because they keep their leaves
all year round. Conifer seas are found inside hard, bumpy cones,

(05:10):
such as pine cones. The leafy part of the tree
above the trunk is called the crown. It comes in
different shapes. Many broad leaves trees are wide and round,
while conifers are often shaped like cones. The branches of
a round tree spread themselves evenly upward and outward from
the trunk. A broad tree has branches that spread farther

(05:35):
to the sides than upward. These trees have branches that
grow up and out to create a wide, flat shape.
Oval trees have a rounded shape that is taller than
it is wide. A weeping tree is branches that drop
down where palms are broad leave trees that grow in
hot countries, and like other trees, they don't grow side branches.

(05:59):
Some trees have closely packed branches that grow up where
many conifers are tom thin a cone shaped trees. Branches
get shorter as they go up the trunk, ending in
a pointy tip. Parts of a tree. Branches grow from
the trunk. They divide to form smaller branches, which end

(06:20):
in twigs. Leaves sprout from twigs. Flowers and fruit grow
from twigs. At certain times of the year canopy high
above the ground. Twigs and leaves weave together to form
a dense, dark blanket called the canopy. The stump. When
a tree is cut down or its trunk breaks, it

(06:41):
leaves behind a stump. Trunk is a sturdy trunk grows
from the ground. It is very strong and supports the
weight of the branches. The bark is a thin, tough
layer that covers the trunk roots underground. Roots hold the
tree steady in the ground wherever they grow. All trees

(07:05):
have the same parts roots, A trunk branches and leaves
secret roots. In the damp, dark world below, roots spread
through the soil to form a woody network. Up to
a third of the tree a is hidden underground. Cozy homes.

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Rabbits and tiny creatures such as worms and beetles live
among the roots. Holding tight roots have two main jops. First,
they hold the tree firmly in the ground so will
not blow over in a storm. Second, they draw water
contain minerals from the soil so the leaves can make food.

(07:47):
Some trees have a big main root called a taproot.
While most roots grow sideways, the tap root shoots straight down.
A tree's root network is often whiter than the tree
is tall, so that it can find as much water
as possible. Trees do most things slowly, but they drink

(08:07):
very fast. A big tree can suck in over one
hundred gallons of water from the soil every day. Pollution
tree roots are very sensitive. They can sense pollution in
the soil and avoid it by growing in a different direction.
Water seekers the main roots fight into smaller ones. The

(08:27):
smallest ones at the end of the root are called rootlets.
They are covered in fine hairs that can sense water.
Water travels up the roots big and tough. The main
roots are strong and woody like branches. Each root tip
has a tough cat to push through the soil as
it grows. These big roots can extend to the ground

(08:51):
up to five feets. Trunk and bark. A tree's trunk
supports us branches, just like your skeleton hopes of your body.
The trunk has to be very starting to support the
huge weight of all the branches. A tree simply wouldn't
be a tree without a trunk. Inside the trunk. At
the center of the trunk is the heartwood. This grew

(09:13):
when the tree was young. It is surrounded by sapwood,
which contains tiny tubes that carry water from the roots
to the leaves. Between the sapwood and the outer bark
is a very thin layer called the folham. This carries
sugar from the leaves to the rest of the tree.
Tree rings provide clues about the tree's history. Wide rings

(09:35):
show years when the tree grew quickly. Narrow rings show
when the tree grew only a little because conditions were
too cold or dry. Bark like this piling birch bark
is the outer layer of the trunk. It stops the
tree from drying out and protects it from insects and
fung guy. Young trees have smooth bark. As trees get

(09:59):
o their bark cracks, pels and becomes more wrinkly, like
the bark of this scaly tree. Different types of trees
have different bark. Bark is also home to delician licians,
like the blotchy yellow ones here. Try making bark prints
by rubbing crowns into a piece of paper placed on bark.

(10:21):
The texture will come through leaves. Next time your outdoors,
take a close look at a leaf. Leaves are very
special because it's in the leaves that the tree works
its magic by making its own food. Water pumpers. Theins
are like tiny pipelines running through the leaf. They take

(10:44):
in water from the tubes, and the trunks have wood
and carry food made by the leaves to the rest
of the tree. Light catchers broad leaf trees spread their wide,
flat leaves to capture as much sunlight as possible. Each
leaf is like a min it's your solar panel, soaking
up energy from the sun. Leaf shapes each tree has

(11:07):
leaves with a slightly different shape. They can be long
and thin, or wide and round. Flat. Round leaves are
good at catching sunlight, but also lose more water. Trees
can't move from place to place, but they can very
slowly turn their leaves to face the sun. Leaves are
green because they contain a natural pigment called chlorophyll, and

(11:30):
fall the green phades and other colors than leaves can
be seen. They turn yellow, orange, and brown. Follow on
one maple tree through the seasons. Spring first shoots after
the cold, dark winter. Spring is the season of a
new beginning. The weather gets warmer and days grow longer.

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Trees know when the winter has passed, and spring the
tree grows green buds. The buds open, uncurling and spreading
new leaves in the sunshine. The tree flowers bloom summer
hot days. Like many humans, trees love the sunshine. Summer
is the hottest season, when the longest days of the

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year and the trees are ready to soak up the sunlight.
Branches are covered with leaves that form a dense, shady layer.
In late summer, the trees fruits start to grow. Trees
do most of their growing during the summer months, fall,
changing colors, and fall. The weather turns cooler and days
get shorter, fruits and nuts ripen, and trees spread their seeds.

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Flat wide leaves can catch blustery autumn winds, so the
tree sheds them to avoid damage to its branches. Its
green leaves turn yellow, orange, red, and brown, then drift
down to the ground winter frosty flakes. Winter's the cold
is season with the shortest days. The tree shedded sleeves.

(13:01):
It may look dead, but is only sleeping as it
waits for spring. The tree has moved the stalks of
sap It's spent all summer making away from its branches
and in to its roots. Flowers, fruits, and seeds. Trees
need to make new trees for the forests to stay healthy.
That's why they grow flowers, fruits, and seeds. The flowers

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bloom in spring. During the warm days of spring, bees
buzz from tree to tree, visiting as many flowers as
they can. Seeds are little bundles that contain a whole
new tree ready to grow. They ripen in summer and fall.
Each seed needs to find a good place to grow. Trees,
like all living things, are born, grow and eventually die,

(13:47):
but they leave behind the promise of new forests still
to come. Flowers. Trees that want to attract insects have large,
showy flowers, while once it's red pollen on the wind
have tiny, delicate ones. Some tree flowers are so small
that they can be tricky to spot, but they have

(14:08):
vital work to do. Blossoms and spring apple and cherry
trees are covered with flowers we call blossoms. These flowers
make the trees look beautiful, but their main job is
to tell insects such as bees, that there's a tree
ready for them. Did geno flowers have male and female parts.

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The male part produces pollen, the female part makes eggs.
Male pollen must combine with these eggs to make them fertile,
and then they can ripen into seeds. Little helpers. Insects
visit flowers to drink a sweet liquid called nectar. Any
pollen grains from the flower that get on the insect's

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body rub off inside the next flower the bee visits.
This makes the next flower fertile grains of pens stick
to the bees hairy body. The bright colors and sweet
smells of flowers tell the insects that nectar is ready.
Pine and fir trees spread their pollen on the winds

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fruits and seeds. Once the tree flowers have been made
fertile by pollen, it is time for seeds to grow.
They can develop inside fruits, cones, hard shells, or papery
covers conifer seeds. Most conifer trees make their seeds inside cones,
not fruits. When the seeds are ripe, the cones open

(15:36):
the light. Papery seeds tumble out and blow away on
the breeze. You and juniper are unusual conifers. They make
small bitter berries. Birds love them fruits. You've ever enjoyed
a crisp apple or juicy cherry. You've eaten the fruit
of a rod leave tree. Mangoes, peaches, and cherries contain

(15:57):
just one large seed called a stone. Apples, oranges, and
lemons have many small seeds called pips, blown on the wind.
Tree seeds must be scattered far and wide so that
new trees can grow. Some seeds are scattered by the wind. Sycamore, maple,
and ash trees have light winged seeds that spin through

(16:19):
the air, carried by currants. Trees that live by rivers
and oceans make seeds that float the current carries them away.
Coconut palms grow on the seashore in warm places. Right
coconuts PLoP into the water, the tide washes them away
to take root on distant coasts. Coconuts are light enough

(16:43):
to float animal assistance. Animals live The bright colors and
mouth watering smells of fruit. Trees get animals to spread
their seeds for them by putting them inside delicious adventure
time for children. The best place to grow up is

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near our parents, who provide everything we need. Trees are
very different. They like their seeds to travel alone to
distance places. Fast moving animals provide a perfect transportation system.
Buried nuts in file. Squirrels and blue jays prepare for
winter by burying nuts and acorns. These nuts provide a

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handy source of food during the long bleak months of winter,
as long as the animal doesn't forget where its food
is buried. Any forgotten seeds will sprout into new trees
in the spring. Monkey dung monkeys leave to feast on figs.
They can digest the juicy flesh, but the hard seeds
pass right through the animal's bodies and come out in

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their pooh. As the monkeys wander from tree to tree,
the seeds in their dung get scattered all over the forest.
Monkey pooh contains all the nutrients a seed needs to
sprout and grow strong and healthy from seed to tree.
Trees are the tallest living things in the world, but

(18:10):
they are born from tiny seeds. Growing to the full
height can take one hundred years. Here's how young oak
sprouts from a little acorn to grow taller than a house.
Seeds are full of food to keep the seed lingoing
until it can make its own food. Sprouting, the seed
lands in moist soil in a warm liked place. Big

(18:32):
changes start to happen. The seed swells and the case
splits open. A tiny root pokes down to take in water.
Small green shoot pushes up through the soil. Once the
first leaves unfurl in the sunlight, the young plant can
make its own food. A new little tree is born.

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Growing older. Humans grow during their childhood that we stop
when we become adults. Trees are different continue growing. What's more,
they can live at least five times as long as
we do. At one hundred years old, many trees are
still youngsters. Oak trees keep getting wider for five hundred

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to six hundred years. Taller and wider As the tree
gets older, its upward growth slows and finally stops when
it reaches full height. But if there is space, its
branches and trunk continue getting wider. The trunk of a
big old tree grows about one inch wider each year.

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Lie after death, no living thing goes on forever. Trees
can live for hundreds of years, but in the end
even they grow old and die. Wind shake the dead
tree until its trunk cracks and it comes crashing to
the ground a new home, but that's not the end
of the story. A dead tree becomes a home for

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thousands of small creatures that like damp, dark places. Little
beests such as plugs, worms, wood lice, centipedeses, insects, and
spiders move in. Up to a third of all creatures
that live in the forests like to live in or
eaten or eat rotten wood. Recycling nutrients. Small creatures and

(20:16):
fungi feast on rotten wood and break it down. This
allows the raw materials that form the tree to return
to the soil. These nutrients feed young trees and other plants,
giving them a good start in life. Moss, ferns, and
flowers take root in the squishy nutritious wood of rotten

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logs and tree stumps. Fungi spread their threads through the
damp wood, and mushroom sprout from the trunk. The fallen
trees have left a gap in the forest canopy, allowing
light to reach the ground. This helps ceilings flourish, sometimes

(20:57):
as seedling will even sprout from a log. Tree partners.
Trees grow and change so slowly that it's hard to
tell how busy they really are. Year after year, trees
stand still and silent, but there's a lot going on
under the surface. Trees are mysterious things. Recently, scientists have

(21:20):
found out that the trees and a forest work together.
They make friends and support one another. Trees look after
their neighbors and mother trees pass food to their children
and older trees within the family. We now know trees
have senses. They can smell, taste, touch, and feel pain
like we do. Trees can sense danger and defend themselves

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against enemies. We are learning that there's a lot more
to trees than we ever imagined. Living together life in
the natural world is tough. It's easier for trees to
survive when they help one another. Trees living in a
forest grow best if all the trees are healthy. If
one tree is in trouble, the others help it. Trees

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also work together to make the forests warmer and more
sheltered in winter and cooler damper and shadier in the summer.
Family and friends trees of the same species look after
one another. Oak, beech, and spruce trees like to share
water and food with only their own kind. But in
some places trees of different types look out from one another.

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Too stronger together, trees grow wider until they reach the
next tree. This creates a roof of branches and leaves
that protects the forest from storms. If too many trees
die and leave gaps, strong winds can enter and wreck
the forest. The tree is damaged and starts to die,
its neighbors will pass it food to keep it alive.

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Roots roots spread through the soil to form a hidden web.
Forest neighbors stand touch with one another and pass food
to each other through their roots. Wood wide web trees
like to keep in touch with each other. Experts have
found that it's not just roots that link the trees
in a forest. They are also connected through fungi, the

(23:14):
living things we know as much as we know as
mushrooms the fungi network. They are sort of like a plant,
but they cannot make their own food. Instead, they make
a network of threats called high fee, which break down food.
The high fee can swap food, water, and even messages

(23:37):
with tree roots. Fungi help trees by cleaning up pollution
and warding off other types of fungui that can make
the trees sick. In return for the fungal network, trees
give water and food to their fungi. Forest family trees

(23:59):
are the same species act like a family. When a
ceiling is struggling, its mother steps into help. Trees that
are very old, are damaged, are not forgotten. Even the
strongest trees can be attacked by disease or insects and
need help every now and then. By helping each other,
the trees make sure the forest says as a hose,

(24:19):
stays strong. Carrying mothers, full grown trees take care of
younger and older trees. Many young trees sprout directly below
the mother tree, but the youngsters don't grow well in
the shade. The mother keeps them alive by passing them
sap in nutrients until they are tall enough to find
the light. Older trees often block light from reaching younger ones,

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far from damaging them. However, it turns out to be
helpful because growing slowly when they are young helps trees
live longer. Helping hand, this stump can't make food without leaves,
but somehow it is still light. The trees of the
forests are feeding the old stump through their roots. This
stump might even be the full grown trees. Mother stumps

(25:05):
can live for hundreds of years without leaves. We will
have to finish this story next time, so this concludes
our story hour for today. Please join us next time
as we will read more stories, fables and fairy tales.
Thank you for listening, and please stay tuned for The

(25:26):
Lex and Herald Leader on RADIOI