Socratea exorrhiza tree is often referred to as the walking palm. That’s because according to a scientific paper from 1980, if another tree falls on top of it, the walking palm can walk out from under the weight and right itself once again.
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00:00 This is the Socrates Exeriza tree or what is more often referred to as the walking palm.
00:09 That's because according to a scientific paper from 1980, if another tree falls on
00:13 top of it, the walking palm can walk out from under the weight and right itself once again.
00:18 Legend also says the trees chase sunlight, moving its roots like legs and changing position
00:23 by upwards of 65 feet a year.
00:25 So is any of that true?
00:27 Unfortunately, probably not.
00:28 More recent studies have found that rather than walking out from under falling trees,
00:32 the walking palm simply grows new roots and taps the ground again for stability.
00:36 Though researchers say it does stretch out towards areas with more sunlight, as most
00:40 plants do, and likely puts down more roots once again to maintain that position.
00:44 Still, it's not hard to see how a legend like this one came to be, with the tree's
00:47 stilt-like roots creating a visage of movable legs.
00:51 And those iconic root legs are a bit of a mystery as well.
00:54 Researchers initially believed they were to protect the tree against flooding events,
00:57 but more recent research has discovered that's likely not the case.
01:00 Meaning these trees, though unable to trot across the jungle, still have some mysteries
01:05 left to be discovered.
01:06 (upbeat music)
01:09 (upbeat music)