The secret language of trees - Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard

Learn how trees are able to communicate with each other through a vast root system and symbiotic fungi, called mycorrhizae.
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Most of the forest lives in the shadow of the giants that make up the highest canopy. These are the oldest trees, with hundreds of children and grandchildren. They check in with their neighbors, share food, supplies and wisdom gained over their lives, all while rooted in place. How do they do this? Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard explore the vast root system and intricate communication of trees.
Lesson by Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard, directed by Avi Ofer.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-secret...
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[@TEDEd]

$1 = 1 tree! Go to TeamTrees.org to learn more. Unable to make a donation? Become part of #TeamTrees by amplifying this campaign and sharing this video far and wide: bit.ly/TEDEdTeamTrees

[@dattatrayjadhav1010]

I

[@odstman2984]

I already know what language the trees speak Vietnamese

[@ngochapham8492]

@@odstman2984 Wdym?

[@odstman2984]

@@ngochapham8492 It’s a Vietnam joke

[@dude_1234]

@@odstman2984 xi jang pong di, xua xe xya to, xin xo xe xayeee

[@osse1n]

How do trees access the internet? *They log on.*

[@FelisBX7]

That joke was terrible, please *leave.*

[@zur137]

I *Barked* with laughter.

[@chaengurimoguri5154]

Woohoo! Bravo! Bravo !👏 Better than Kevin Hart jokes!!!

[@deadlockfinders264]

aren't they supposed to create account(fungi) and then login

[@TEDEd]

These jokes are making us sappy

[@Rhoxe]

"There's nothing wrong with having a friend as a tree." - Ross Bob

[@petersalucci5444]

Rhoxe .C R. I. P

[@james6401]

I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree

[@Snapeserverussnape]

"There's nothing tree with having a friend as a wrong" -Rob Boss

[@voonsokbee5536]

F

[@pilpil8180]

Ghouls and trees are best friends

[@sebastianelytron8450]

A video on trees? Branching out, I see 😉

[@TEDEd]

Thanks fir the mighty pine pun Sebastian Elytron! You wood not believe what other fun tree lessons we have, check them out: bit.ly/HowTallAreTrees and bit.ly/TEDEdTreeCanopy

[@osse1n]

What did the trees wear to Mother Nature’s pool party? *Swimming trunks!*

[@akitora1248]

the door is on your right.

[@jyothidudupa240]

@@akitora1248 Are you sure that's the *right* door?

[@PrinceKashyap.]

Any Hitman here? I want a deal for this Ossein guy.

[@knottyhaddock2333]

when a tree has more social skills than you

[@knottyhaddock2333]

@@Sleepy_Cabbage bro I never thought of that

[@ThatGuy-zw4le]

@@Sleepy_Cabbage bet you're fun at parties

[@TomerCohenillumenati]

I like it when the profile picture fits the comment

[@knottyhaddock2333]

@@TomerCohenillumenati :(

[@dankduck]

Trees had like 3 billion years of social skills to develop while we only had 200,000 years

[@v.4412]

Woah, I've learnt about mycorrhizae and their symbiotic relationship with trees but I never knew that they also connect multiple trees together as well! Ted Ed never ceases in teaching something new!

[@Rinsuki]

Yes. This is why dense forests can feed newer generations of trees who don't get much sun. The roots of the older trees have that beneficial fungi and this network allows the saplings to get some food. So when people cut older forests down its very devastating for all the animals and microorganisms

[@samiyaismail6905]

yh, thats why i love this channel

[@ClownDollThatHasContemptForYou]

"There is nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend" Yeah trees are good listeners,They make the oxygen we breath ,They can give delicious fruits(Depending on the tree obviously),You can lay down for a nap under thier shadow and so on

[@ninanickel3103]

Anis BEng they are the best definition of life.

[@TP-tg8cc]

You just described the plot of "The Giving Tree" lol

[@zuko1569]

This video has been translated by: Lorax Special thanks to him, the video editor and the narrator

[@rynaanggraeny]

Omg again

[@lilyacosta567]

Lmao

[@addaccount9246]

tree, are there vietnamesse on you?

[@samuelcuevas1316]

Even though he isn't mentioned during the video, the Lorax takes the credit, but he's highly offended.

[@ImranLokman]

Hey Zuzu

[@grobonsai]

Trees are fascinating, it’s mind boggling how complex they are. Thanks for the great explanation 🙏

[@ramu992]

Tree's have a language ? That's inTREEguing.

[@deciding]

nice.

[@mirunastoica320]

nice.

[@ZanTGG]

Raam you better be taking care of Raphtalia and Filo ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@ramu992]

@@ZanTGG now that i've got my own domain to rule.i am sure they'll live a better life than before.

[@avaneeshjadhav255]

Dude, please *leaf* , your joke is terrible

[@clown445]

Wait why r trees so cute now? They just want to help their friend that can’t get food by itself! That’s so cute!

[@clown445]

I couldn't find a good pfp yeah I know but let me live my life

[@3rdassassin50]

@@clown445 kawaii

[@kyuurahitotama4271]

@@spartacus17.if i say its cute then its cute

[@lokpalsahu238]

It will be biggest revolution if we succeed to talk with tree

[@humblesoldier5474]

I can see some lumber companies trying to hide/debunk this to keep chopping down trees. Iron, and Titanium are so abundant and cheap that using wood should have faded out awhile back.

[@omegalul8861]

Humble Soldier Then, a few centuries later, scientists discover we can talk to metal.

[@Himark89]

@Gael na hÉireann Not really, Sentient Forests consists of old hub trees. Tree Farming doesn't allow Trees to reach the maturity necessary for tree hubs to exist.

[@humblesoldier5474]

@@omegalul8861 That would be proving matter of a certain atomic mass is itself sentient, and a whole other path of philosophical discussion. It would be interesting if true, as a whole asteroid, or planet, or core of an iron core of a star would/could be sentient.

[@ankushkumar5159]

I have a tree as my friend...i see no problem in that.

[@abhishekp4919]

awww

[@dr.prajaktamanojpatil4272]

I also Ankush Kumar...

[@TechyedYT]

Same here

[@sharank]

Beetlejuicing

[@goldenrayofcentralsun1111]

They listen without talking back. But they do listen. Have u seen the experiment ikea did where they placed 2 plants separately away from each other. One had a sign asking customers to speak kindly to it, and it flourished well. The other, the sign asked customers to speak unkindly to it, and it yellowed and obviously, not did well at all.

[@-4subscriberswithahammerad521]

And these trees are being cut down at a rapid rate That’s pretty sad

[@micheal5117]

more paper 4 me then

[@akaliotp6766]

And they are being grown back at a rapid rate 😂

[@SkyValleyStuff]

i bet you live in a wooden house

[@bones1026]

Why is everyone joking about this comment? They’re just saying that it’s sad that trees are being cut down. Animals are losing homes and going extinct. Why are we joking about the earth being destroyed so fast it can’t replenish itself??

[@shoulders-of-giants]

"pretty sad" is quite an understatement

[@PuzzlesExplained]

"Trees can also share information about events like drought or insect attacks through their fungal networks, causing their neighbors to increase production of protective enzymes in anticipation of threats." That right there is so crazy, that trees warn their neighbors about attacks so they can get their defenses up. This right here is real communication.

[@humblesoldier5474]

When none of you can move. But the enemy can move. communication becomes a big factor if you stay alive, or die. I'm just waiting for someone to try and get Australia's most lethal tree on every continent. No one using trees after that.

[@slickzMdzn]

That's what shook me the most too

[@pineapplelord2422]

tree: *RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE* grass: * LMFAO YEA BOI*

[@markj1374]

If they dont share they will be charged with treeson lolol

[@jesse113553]

Mark Jones Treespass

[@gagandeepsingh7789]

These puns are a treet

[@pilpil8180]

I like your sense of humor You must be depressed

[@satnamo]

Everything is interconnected and everything is interdependent; Tree is grown to benefit the forest like leaves and root.

[@keithwood6459]

I used to think everything in nature competed with everything else as hard as it could to get scarce and precious nutrients. A year or so ago I learned some of this about tree-to-tree communication and it blew my mind. This video went deeper on the subject. It is truly amazing. The "nature is brutal" paradigm went out the window, at least in part. Animals still die brutal deaths, but this tree thing is pretty cool. I look at nature differently now.

[@jasonjames4667]

Boy....I could fall asleep listening to any of the Ted Ed videos The narrators speak so neatly and the background music while subtle is always soothing

[@douglasfurtek7637]

Camille and Suzanne, you really deserve an award for this video! Informative, entertaining, and artistic! I love it!

[@thegrassman6369]

I am The Grass Man and I can confirm Grass has its own language, and they love to talk crap behind humans' backs

[@shoulders-of-giants]

no wonder

[@PrinceKashyap.]

It ain't about grass, it's about trees and their roots. Sorry grass man, you aren't needed here.

[@thegrassman6369]

@@PrinceKashyap. I am The Grass Man and Trees are only evolved Grass

[@PrinceKashyap.]

@@thegrassman6369 hmm, seems like your love for grass is inevitable. Pardon me Your Majesty, I admit the Mighty Grass as our Lord.

[@arifhossain9751]

What kind of grass?

[@arushdubey9198]

*Messages in Tree language On The Tree Internet* "Another Great Video!"

[@av4787]

This is too beautiful, how nature Speaks silently

[@tangycuplg1690]

Everything connects with everything making life. Nature was designed to fit with others, help others, and more.

[@Arturs1984]

Who is designer?

[@cayleythecrow5144]

So it’s basically tree internet!

[@Anandgovender1]

Treenternet

[@brianwang6022]

Arbornet

[@DocSlayingyoudown]

Rooter

[@dude_1234]

world wide fungi-network! XD very funi!

[@solepula]

“Tree? I am no tree! I am an Ent.” ~ Treebeard 🌲

[@_justnick]

One of the best characters ever

[@humanthatexist8257]

Great profile pic 😂

[@TheNightBender]

As for the motivation for mycorrhizae to share nutrients between trees, maybe you can think of it this way: If the fungi help the trees help each other, the trees are more likely to survive, which in turn helps the fungi survive. This makes it sound quite natural!

[@raghavbhatia3892]

I am Groot. Translation: Love you, Ted-Ed!

[@Coralinehowerton]

I feel like the interconnectivity between the trees is evidence that the entire forest is the unit, or individual. It's not trees that make up a forest like people make up their community, it's trees making up a forest like organs make up an organism. Whatever it is, it is more complex and beautiful and sentient than we give it credit for.

[@hammersaw3135]

We need to start listening to them and learning from them. They have wisdom that is beyond anything the human mind can imagine.

[@ishitavyavahare5355]

This video makes me so happy because its so beautiful how everything in nature is so connected.

[@adriepositoh899]

Duolingo: (💥_💥)

[@esmeraldaoneal4044]

You got a genuine lol out of me 😂😂 😂

[@dustonpage1280]

Beg for your life in Tree.

[@kaneera4678]

I watch every single one of these. I love TED-Ed!

[@Zoeticlicense1976]

And beyond science immeasurable communications that we can access only beyond the mind. Trees are the wisdom keepers of the Earth. Incredible beings that our indigenous tribes have always had deep relationships with. 💚

[@VR-jg3sp]

A delightfully produced short. Bravo, Avi!

[@triciadeadman]

Beautifully presented and illustrated. Perfect for children. (and Grandmothers!)

[@sosensualandfree]

The sound design and animation on this video is really great and the subject matter is novel to me. You've outdone yourself again TedEd.

[@kyaclark]

WHY IS THIS SO HEART WARMING??

[@bogscholar691]

I have no idea how or why, but the animation for this video made me instantly calm. The art is so charming and comforting

[@ianrockdrigo]

So sad the things we are doing to our environment, stop single use plastic, reutilize, shop smarter. Awesome drawings, nice video !!

[@shoulders-of-giants]

Also, shop less. Much less.

[@incogniftoar3943]

Wow, nature never stop amazed me.

[@BartAppleseed]

I AM JUST IN SHOCK AND AWE AND DELIGHT with this knowledge. trees and nature is JUST AMAZING! thank u!

[@johnnycolon8408]

I just love this channel. Thank you for another amazing video. I learned something new about trees ❤🌳

[@antoniofiore1603]

Beautiful drawings, beautiful music.... Interesting topic

[@hinafan]

Yay! I’m early.. by 86 comments.. Still counts! I love your videos it’s much fun to learn about things watching your videos! 💕 It makes the stories even more interesting

[@lauraodon2078]

this is amazing! i’m filled with love after those facts about trees

[@Chloe-zs8ee]

i’d love a video on the history of houseplants! or the science of potting mix or something like that. always love these ted ed videos!

[@zur137]

Nobody: TED-Ed: wanna learn about trees?

[@the1koolkitty]

This video really was fascinating -- lovely work as ever, Ted-Ed! It seems like such the structure of networks that connect everyone together and benefit all involved would be a wonderful way to structure our world, if we humans could somehow get over our own egos, prejudices, and selfishness. (I can't help but feel the animator must have felt similarly, given the pointed caricature at 4:02 on the line about "threats.")

[@blableblu4255]

This is lovely. They are so connected, know about others... Amazing 🌳💛 Thanks so much for share👏👏

[@EstherYuu]

Finally found it, I've been rooting for this!

[@casualguy634]

I was about to joke about something on the trees but i don't think that's the brightest idea _the trees knows what i said_

[@jaqenhghar5794]

TREEBEARD: "We have just said good morning"

[@rozalya585]

I have many subscriptions in many different channels so I receive hundreds of notification but your video is the one that attracted me. ....amazing. indeed

[@mildranaya1]

Thanks for the illustration suzane, it makes me easy to tell to others.

[@thebigsad9463]

Everyone gangsta until your tree friends start talking

[@standing_behind_you4152]

Grandchild: Grandpa! Tree:Who are you?

[@samhaines8228]

simply wonderous & profoundly beautiful

[@wakaran4419]

Seriously loving the unique style of animation!!

[@karabasa9933]

"There's nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend." -Bob Ross

[@sundalongpatpat]

Trees really said, "From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs." What can I say, I have to stan.

[@lidette711]

I didn't know this. :) But we have a mango tree in our yard, and there are other trees outside our house. Whenever the wind blows and the leaves sway, I feel like the trees are talking to each other. But I didn't know that trees do communicate with one another. Thanks TedEd!

[@alejom1851]

This channel mixes science and art flawlessly

[@arpitha29]

The tree scene from The OA (season 2) was inspired by this concept.

[@markhenry6767]

I would like to have the Ted-Ed team as teachers in my school.

[@Saurabh_Tewari007]

It was really soothing and astonishing.

[@hanasakurai7534]

her voice is so relaxing. i could listen to her for hours

[@lolzxl9184]

All trees deserve friends RIP Bob Ross

[@Sydneylife24]

It's not language it's impulse. But the video was simply woah

[@cristinat.8952]

That's truly amazing! Nature is impressive and surprising...

[@khalikage4050]

This is Crazy, you do learn something new everyday !

[@cormacsmithy3975]

Bob Ross will forever be an example of how everyone should live.

[@abdullahbinjs2236]

This might have been said before, but trees and plants are alive. Lots of other plants also communicate like this, and this is effectively a concience, a soul. Plants think and feel, we just don't get it because we experience our world differently. So hurting them is definitely causing a living creature real pain, we just don't give it importance.

[@Cutiejuliya]

What to eat then tho

[@amarj9909]

The beautiful way of communication with a mere fungi.... my respects to mycorrhizae...we are all debt to u. 😀...becoz u are saving our friends (Trees) and us.

[@giuseppersa2391]

Truly Magical in the fullest sense of the word

[@TheGreatCooLite]

Those gangsta trees be inhaling that co2

[@chilhouette]

"Yes, I heard talk b/w two trees, and I proved it years ago" -- Jagdish Chandra Bose

[@michelgabe1629]

Best starting quote in the history of ted-ed videos :D

[@nicolasflorentin875]

Omg the draws/animation is soooo aesthetic so pleasant to watch

[@scarlettassassinator6192]

When you realize that fungi is faster than your internet connection.

[@FibonacciPasta]

*i am the Lorax and i spek for lé trees* *thE TREES SAY-*

[@Fegelantic]

Something in Vietnamese

[@aleportillo321]

I cant believe that I needed this video in my life!

[@hidesuzuki156]

i find the narration very calming

[@kyrieh5131]

"Hey guys can you leaf me alone?" "Oakay." "If you don't stop making puns i will literally turn into paper willingfully."

[@janinebarquilla2035]

"The secret language of trees" vietnam veterans: *nervous sweat

[@kyriesong1505]

once again, such a lovely and charming art style from Ted-ed :3

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Hi ted-ed Another interesting and exciting topic... Thank you...🙏👍😊

[@yudhvirsirkissoon]

Trees are pretty cool, maybe we should stop chopping them down.🤔😤

[@thebigsad9463]

*I once went into a forest and found a tree*

[@humblesoldier5474]

Once you found the tree you lost the forest.

[@15.johnsonangel]

What's coming up for me is they're sharing the extra they have out and simultaneously reaching out for what they need. Without expectations bcz nature

[@kessangla7864]

The animation is so calming

[@drewfisher1619]

My foot fungi could evolve into mycorrhyzae too one day.

[@riejrjejejrjejrjrkenendkdj4207]

Scooters Videos imagine some police trying to investigate you "show me your feet" "NO NO NO NOT THE FEET" "give me your foot fungus" "NOOOOOOOOOO" *police shoves his foot into your shoe* *his foot fungus and your foot fungus pump sugar into eachother* "so you really did kill the 8 year old kid, huh."

[@unsimplemulticellularlifef5739]

Notif gang

[@rivertrees4733]

Thank you very much for your video!!! Beautiful!!!

[@julifejer2709]

this is stunning.love it.

[@kaezethmercado4200]

Save the trees please 😔🙌🏼

[@josephjackson1956]

I already heard about this. The Lord of the Rings taught me that the trees speak in long words. They take a few hours to say hello

[@zeyd-qy5tr]

This is one of the most interesting video I've ever watched on ted ed

[@theaferrer9643]

A magic school bus episode covered this exact topic and the accuracy of it solidifies why I loved that show so much when I was a kid. It was shown to my gr.3 class and they were as fascinated as I was when I learned about it!