Trees Aren't What You Think: A Surprising Look at Plant Taxonomy

This article reveals a surprising fact: trees are not a monophyletic group, meaning that the common ancestors of different types of trees may not have been trees themselves. The article delves into the phenomenon of 'dendronization,' where plants have independently evolved woody stems multiple times. Research shows there are no unique 'tree genes,' but rather, plants utilize different expressions of existing genes to achieve tree morphology. Furthermore, the article discusses the fuzziness of categories like 'fruit' and 'berry,' pointing out the discrepancies between biological and everyday usage.