Science Never Forgets

 


The Survivor Tree at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

A Callery pear tree that was planted in the 70's near WTC Building 5.

On September 11, the tree had its root system snapped, its bark severely burned, and its trunk reduced to an 8 foot stump.  Tissues were crushed, starved of water, and exposed to extreme heat.

It was found in October under debris, and placed in the care of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation for rehabilitation.

The tree used what's called CODIT - compartmentalization of decay in trees - which walls off the dead wood from living, vascular tissue, channeling nutrients to surviving pathways.

Hidden buds beneath the bark produced epicormic shoots, which helps the tree replace lost leaves and make food.  Smooth new limbs began to grow from the gnarled, charred trunk.

In 2010, the tree had grown to 30 feet, and was returned to the WTC Plaza, where it became an emblem of resilience and hope.


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