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Why do trees have branches?

Why do trees have branches?
Plants


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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Why do trees have branches?
 
Have you ever learned about the special way that plants make food? Through a process called “photosynthesis,” plants make their own food using just water, sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and nutrients from the ground! Inside a tree’s leaves is a special helper called “chlorophyll,” which is what makes the leaves appear green. Chlorophyll helps with absorbing light so that a tree can carry out photosynthesis and make food! 

Because a tree’s leaves are such essential helpers in the food-making process, trees need to make sure they’re exposed to as much sunlight as possible! – This is where branches come in!

A tree’s branches are responsible for stretching out as far and wide as possible to help the leaves reach light! Branches also allow a tree to have even more leaves than if the leaves just grew directly from the tree’s trunk. And branches are helpful to more than just their tree – tree branches help provide us with shade on a hot day and they give birds and other animals a place to rest or build their homes!




Branching out!

Lots of trees have particularly big, beautiful, interesting branches! What’s the most memorable tree you ever saw? What did its branches look like? Were they thick, or thin? Did they curve and twist out of the tree’s trunk, or grow in a more straight line?

Draw a picture of the most beautiful tree you can think of!