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Tree bark can be smooth, scaly, rubbery, flaky, craggy or bumpy. Its texture, thickness and flexibility depends on the type of tree. But no matter what the tree or how the bark looks, it has but one purpose as far as the tree is concerned — to protect the tree from injury, disease and pests. Bark is like our skin. As a tree grows, the bark expands outward. And because bark cannot stretch as it grows, a tree will produce a pattern of cracking, flaking or very deep ridges that soon become the tree's "fingerprint." the texture of bark may change as tree grows older and sometimes at top is different than that bottom. some trees have very thick helps protect from becoming injured in fires. old douglas fir sequoias be more two feet thick. this pretty good insulation fire. bur oak a common found tallgrass prairies. when prairie fires occurred, these could stand intense heat because their thick, deeply furrowed bark. barks bad tasting chemicals them, which keeps insects feeding on them. covered with long sharp thorns or spines keep animals away prevents them eating tree. next time you pull cork out bottle, go fishing bobber, hit baseball center can thank thomas jefferson. he was first person to recognize value oak. provides us all types products. comes outer stripped off are about 15 years old. process continues every 7-12 for 100 longer. why not killed? people who harvest careful damage area under called cambium an important producing new cells other tissue. most areas located spain portugal plantations grow cork. cinnamon, small shrub, spice up our lives. find it ground powder sticks. sticks just thin layers peeled off, rolled dried. great put hot cider. also used make medicines. quinine south america sunburn creams heart medicine. finds its way into food industry flavor beverages like tonic. many early settlers they built homes. made roof waterproof. native americans transportation birch canoes. |