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27 Amazing Examples Of “Crown Shyness”, A Phenomenon Where Trees Avoid Touching
The next time you're out walking through the forest, take a moment to look above you at the beautiful trees, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Check out these nature photography shots to see what we mean. The naturally occurring phenomenon is called "crown shyness" because the uppermost branches of certain tree species don't like to touch one another. The intriguing behavior was first observed in the 1920s, and various hypotheses have been presented since then in an attempt to explain it. Some believe it occurs to reduce the spread of harmful insects. Others believe that trees are attempting to protect one another's branches from getting cracked and broken in the wind, and it's also been suggested that "crown shyness" happens so that trees can optimize light exposure to maximize the process of photosynthesis which is done by the tree leaves. Despite these various theories, however, nobody knows for sure why this phenomenon occurs, but it serves to remind us of just how beautiful nature can be. Scroll down for some of our favorite pictures, and don't forget to vote for the best. (h/t: colossal)
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Ok Ha-Neul 9 years ago
me in public places : don't touch me don't touch me please don't touch me eunghhhh
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Marzo Florida 9 years ago
When I first looked at it, my eyes thought that the camera was in the tree looking down at cracks in a path :)
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Linda Brown 9 years ago
There is one of the trees that looks like a dog looking over his left shoulder.
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Ophelia Papworth-Rivera 5 years ago
Thought it was incredibly terrible of the author to not give credit to each picture of where each one was located?!
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What do you think ?
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
INTERESTING FACT - What causes it is not fully understood. One theory suggests that this empty space around the crown might be caused by breakage of twigs and branches from violent collision that happens during storms and high winds. Experiments show that if trees with crown shyness are artificially prevented from swaying and colliding in the wind, they gradually fill in the empty space in the canopy.
Just a Purpler 9 years ago
Very interesting! Thanks Yvonne! It'll be my new party starter XD
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John L 9 years ago
They all seem to have a couple of things in common. They are generally new growth in that they started out pretty much the same time. And also they are of the same species of tree. Its probably their way of getting a 'leg up' on other competing species, by ensuring their own integrity, and also keeping other trees from grabbing their sunlight. Natural selection playing its part. ;D
Yvonne Bernal 9 years ago
INTERESTING FACT - What causes it is not fully understood. One theory suggests that this empty space around the crown might be caused by breakage of twigs and branches from violent collision that happens during storms and high winds. Experiments show that if trees with crown shyness are artificially prevented from swaying and colliding in the wind, they gradually fill in the empty space in the canopy.
Just a Purpler 9 years ago
Very interesting! Thanks Yvonne! It'll be my new party starter XD
Load More Replies... John L 9 years ago
They all seem to have a couple of things in common. They are generally new growth in that they started out pretty much the same time. And also they are of the same species of tree. Its probably their way of getting a 'leg up' on other competing species, by ensuring their own integrity, and also keeping other trees from grabbing their sunlight. Natural selection playing its part. ;D
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