The most useful "bucket waist" in the world can hold 2 tons of water!

In the magical nature, there are many kinds of creatures, and different creatures have various strange characteristics. On a plateau in South America, there is such a strange tree, which has a thick "barrel waist" and is quite spectacular when viewed from a distance. This is the tree with the most water storage in the world: the bottle tree.

1. Characteristics of Bottle Tree

The bottle tree (Cavanillesia arborea K.Schum.) is native to South America and grows in the middle area between the tropical rainforest and sparse grassland in the Amazon River basin, where the dry season and rainy season alternate, and the dry season is longer. In order to adapt to this change, the bottle tree has evolved into its current form.

The height of the bottle tree can exceed 35 meters (under fertile soil conditions), the diameter of the tree waist is 2 to 3.5 meters, and the diameter of the thickest part can even reach 5 meters. It can be said to be the best representative tree of "water bucket waist". Its trunk has a unique shape, with tapering ends and swelling in the middle, especially like a huge bottle; with a thick "waist" below and a tuft of messy "hair" above, it looks like a big radish growing out of the ground from a distance.

Source: Sohu

The bottle tree stores all its water in its trunk, up to two tons, which can be used directly. This is the plant's way of saving its life. The flowers of the bottle tree have a rather unpleasant smell and bloom at night. They are pollinated by bats and bloom from August to September each year.

In general, compared with other trees, the bottle tree does not take the aesthetic route, but looks very down-to-earth: "water bucket waist", "big bottle", "big carrot". In human aesthetics, this appearance is naturally not good-looking, but there are gains and losses. Although the bottle tree is not so "beautiful", its thick "water bucket waist" can store a lot of water and other nutrients, making it drought-resistant and cold-resistant, able to adapt to the competitive environment of nature, and thus survive better.

2. Don’t underestimate the “water bucket waist”, it has great uses

1. Bottle trees can provide water to desert travelers in times of need

Similar to the traveler's banana, the bottle tree can also provide "water source". For travelers in the desert, the bottle tree is their "sand sea drink". Just make a small hole in the tree, and the refreshing and thirst-quenching "drink" will flow out continuously, solving people's urgent need for water in the vast sea of ​​sand.

2. “Big stomach”, not afraid of drought

Although many trees have a certain degree of adaptability to harsh environments, the bottle tree is one of the best. As the saying goes, "People move and live, trees move and die." For most plants, transplanting is very damaging to their "vitality." It is best to plant them in the transplanting site within a few days after digging out the rhizomes. Otherwise, over time, the plants will lose a lot of water and nutrients and will find it difficult to survive. But for the bottle tree, transplanting is a "piece of cake." Even if the rhizomes of the bottle tree are dug out and transplanted after 3 months, it can still be "refreshed", which shows how deep its "inner strength" is!

Source: Baidu Encyclopedia

In addition, don't underestimate the thick roots of the bottle tree. When the rainy season comes, it can absorb about one ton of water. The roots absorb water and the trunk stores water, and the "water bucket waist" of the bottle tree is gradually developed.

In the dry season, in order to reduce transpiration and water consumption, the leaves of the bottle tree will fall off. In this way, even if the weather is dry for the next year, the bottle tree can survive. If there is a fire, the water stored in the tree can protect the trunk and new branches will grow again next year.

3. The Twins of the Bottle Tree

In nature, there is another tree that looks very similar to the bottle tree, called the bottle tree or the Australian Buddha's Belly Tree. The bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris K.Schum.) is native to Australia and is mainly distributed in the local tropical areas. Similar to the bottle tree, the bottle tree also has a bulging belly that can store a lot of water.

Source: unsplash

Another great benefit of the bottle tree to humans is that its trunk is edible! Long ago, when food was scarce, local people in Queensland would eat the soft part of the bottle tree after removing the bark. The soft part is similar to the pulp, rich in energy and water, but low in protein, so it cannot be used as a staple food, but it can solve urgent needs for people during famine.

Magical nature, magical creatures, and magical bottle trees. From the bottle tree, we can understand that appearances are not what you see, and every creature has its own unique "beauty". Every creature has its own meaning and value of existence, and thrives in nature!