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Anatomically Correct Whomping Willow

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Anatomically Correct Whomping Willow


Anatomically Correct Boar TrollAnatomically Correct BorrowerHow do we create an Anemone Tree?Anatomically Correct Siren?Anatomically correct sharknado sharkAnatomically Correct HumbabaAnatomically Correct HuldraAnatomically Correct Giant SpiderAnatomically Correct - (ONI) HatchAnatomically Correct Slinky Worm






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6












$begingroup$


The whomping willow is a fictional tree from the Harry Potter series of books. It is a magic willow that can move its branches to punch people who come close to it.



It is probably plotting something evil



Small animals such as cats and rats can approach without much worry; Anything human-sized or larger gets whacked. As for how strongly it can punch, one of the books has this quote in it:




"People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it."



—Remus Lupin




It also has a small knot near the base. Pressing it causes the tree to become immobilised, at least for a few moments, so it is safe to stay close to it. I don't think the books ever mention how long that lasts.




What I would like to know is the closest thing to that we could have, in a fictional world, without magic (hence the science-based tag). Doesn't have to be a plant per se: it can be a fungus or anemone. It just needs to be a living, sessile thing.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    8 hours ago







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    7 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    7 hours ago


















6












$begingroup$


The whomping willow is a fictional tree from the Harry Potter series of books. It is a magic willow that can move its branches to punch people who come close to it.



It is probably plotting something evil



Small animals such as cats and rats can approach without much worry; Anything human-sized or larger gets whacked. As for how strongly it can punch, one of the books has this quote in it:




"People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it."



—Remus Lupin




It also has a small knot near the base. Pressing it causes the tree to become immobilised, at least for a few moments, so it is safe to stay close to it. I don't think the books ever mention how long that lasts.




What I would like to know is the closest thing to that we could have, in a fictional world, without magic (hence the science-based tag). Doesn't have to be a plant per se: it can be a fungus or anemone. It just needs to be a living, sessile thing.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    8 hours ago







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    7 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    7 hours ago














6












6








6





$begingroup$


The whomping willow is a fictional tree from the Harry Potter series of books. It is a magic willow that can move its branches to punch people who come close to it.



It is probably plotting something evil



Small animals such as cats and rats can approach without much worry; Anything human-sized or larger gets whacked. As for how strongly it can punch, one of the books has this quote in it:




"People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it."



—Remus Lupin




It also has a small knot near the base. Pressing it causes the tree to become immobilised, at least for a few moments, so it is safe to stay close to it. I don't think the books ever mention how long that lasts.




What I would like to know is the closest thing to that we could have, in a fictional world, without magic (hence the science-based tag). Doesn't have to be a plant per se: it can be a fungus or anemone. It just needs to be a living, sessile thing.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




The whomping willow is a fictional tree from the Harry Potter series of books. It is a magic willow that can move its branches to punch people who come close to it.



It is probably plotting something evil



Small animals such as cats and rats can approach without much worry; Anything human-sized or larger gets whacked. As for how strongly it can punch, one of the books has this quote in it:




"People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it."



—Remus Lupin




It also has a small knot near the base. Pressing it causes the tree to become immobilised, at least for a few moments, so it is safe to stay close to it. I don't think the books ever mention how long that lasts.




What I would like to know is the closest thing to that we could have, in a fictional world, without magic (hence the science-based tag). Doesn't have to be a plant per se: it can be a fungus or anemone. It just needs to be a living, sessile thing.







science-based creature-design






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago







Renan

















asked 9 hours ago









RenanRenan

65.7k20 gold badges154 silver badges321 bronze badges




65.7k20 gold badges154 silver badges321 bronze badges










  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    8 hours ago







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    7 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    7 hours ago













  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    8 hours ago







  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    8 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
    $endgroup$
    – Renan
    7 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
    $endgroup$
    – World Peace
    7 hours ago








2




2




$begingroup$
@elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
$endgroup$
– Renan
8 hours ago




$begingroup$
@elemtilas not requiring a plant means some fungis or anemone will fit. I also want a living creature so that it can be found in nature.
$endgroup$
– Renan
8 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
$endgroup$
– World Peace
8 hours ago





$begingroup$
That’s more an opinion based question as anything biological that develops such kind of apparatus to move would fulfill your requirements to some degree. It might help to give more clear boundaries?
$endgroup$
– World Peace
8 hours ago





2




2




$begingroup$
I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
$endgroup$
– Demigan
8 hours ago




$begingroup$
I think the game was played when the tree was young and smaller... we know it is well capable of thrashing a broomstick or a car. And with the option to slam its entire weight, which for the Height of a Womping willow I guesstimate at 4 tons or 8800 pounds based on this:google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://… the tree is a lot more lethal at grown heights
$endgroup$
– Demigan
8 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
@WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
$endgroup$
– Renan
7 hours ago




$begingroup$
@WorldPeace the point is being a tree-ish being. The less deviations, the better
$endgroup$
– Renan
7 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
@Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
$endgroup$
– World Peace
7 hours ago





$begingroup$
@Renant I understand your point but not so much what you are asking for. In a fictional world plants could have something similar to muscles (mimosa or some sea plant live e.g.) ..so hypothetically it’s possible to have a whomping willow...as long as it serves some evolutionary advantage. But the latter is up to your fiction you set up. But we know nothing about your world...
$endgroup$
– World Peace
7 hours ago











3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















6













$begingroup$

Supersized land anemones



Meet the swimming sea anemone:



Sea anemone swims away from sea star



It's desperately avoiding the grasp of a nearby sea star, which is interesting but not what we're interested in. Rather, notice how it bends its ring of tentacles nearly all the way to the ground.



What if this wasn't a defensive mechanism, but rather an offensive one? Our supersized land anemones would remain quietly waiting until they detect prey pesky teenagers, either by touch or through the network of symbionts surrounding them. Once triggered, the entire crown of the tree, full of tentacles and the anemone's nematocysts, would smash down upon the prey.



Considerations



It'll take a some handwaving to make this happen, but that's mainly to do with the transition of the anemone from sea to land. Anemones are supported by water pressure, so our land versions would only be found in the dampest areas such as swamps.



It's quite possible to imagine an anemone that ends up looking like a tree, especially if it's a strong evolutionary pressure. The stalk of the anemone might become tough, leathery and brown simply by drying out, giving a very bark-like texture. On land, zooxanthellae can be much more helpful given the higher intensity of sunlight, so they'd proliferate wildly. However, these symbionts are brown algae, so the tree canopy would remain a brownish golden color all year long



As for the prey size requirements, the anemone is unlikely to notice small organisms relative to tree height, and would therefore only trigger once a certain size threshold is exceeded. That just happens to be the size difference between small animals and humans.



Supersized heliozoans



Heliozoans are a class of aquatic predators that look like underwater spikeballs:



Heliozoan



They act almost like underwater spiders, as they use those long, thin spines to catch prey, which are nearly invisible underwater. They're coated in a sticky substance that may have some paralyzing effects. They sit and wait for a prey item pesky teenagers to bump into a spine, at which point the spines actually retract with incredible speed- up to 2 body lengths per second. Prey Teenagers are then brought near to the cell body and digested.



Fortunately for us, some species already come with trunks!



Stalked heliozoan



Considerations



Again, these are aquatic creatures that don't like being suspended in the air. Fortunately, they also have a sporelike function that they'll use when food is scarce or the streams dry up. It's possible that such a heliozoan, once left in a dry streambed for long enough, will nonetheless try to feed. Realizing the vast amounts of food available, they'll be selected for size and eventually (with a tiny bit of handwaving) become the size of trees!



The same size-requirements apply here. The tree wouldn't worry about small things touching its bark or leaves, but instead would use its energy to deter larger creatures that might actually threaten it. The spines would be set on a large-size trigger where a certain length must be touched, or perhaps multiple spines in a short time window, akin to the Venus flytrap triggers.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$






















    5













    $begingroup$

    Mimosa pudica is well known for its peculiar feature of wrapping close its leaves when they are touched.



    Expand this to branches, not only to leaves, and you have the moving ability: from the opened state they get retracted and can look like the return phase of a punch.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$










    • 2




      $begingroup$
      This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
      $endgroup$
      – Bald Bear
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
      $endgroup$
      – Bald Bear
      7 hours ago










    • $begingroup$
      @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
      $endgroup$
      – Renan
      7 hours ago


















    0













    $begingroup$

    I would combine aspects of two existing plants that are related to each other as closely as the Caryophyllales order.



    Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus) + Drosera regia (king sundew)



    The Saguaro already grows to 'tree-size', without any modification at all. Though well short of what most willow species are capable of achieving, if left to grow naturally, the saguaro can easily reach sizes rivaling the GIF you used in your question, due to the pollarding done to the willow (pollarding is the repeated pruning of branches at the same place, to start new branch growth from that same area)



    The king sundew provides the mobility, as it has leaves that can reach more than 2 feet long (giving it more than a 4 foot radius overall) which can coil and twist. It also provides (unexpectedly, considering its mobility) the woody aspect to the step of the overall organism. In an unmodified king sundew, this woody material is in it's stem which is generally entirely below surface level.



    Combine the woody stem from the sundew, with the size of the cactus, and you have a woody trunk that is tree size. Add the mobility of the sundew's leaves to the 'arms' or 'branches' of the cactus, and you get the ability to swing in, effectively, any direction, with the woody material limiting movement progressively as you move from the tips of the leaves toward the branches and then to the trunk.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$

















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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      6













      $begingroup$

      Supersized land anemones



      Meet the swimming sea anemone:



      Sea anemone swims away from sea star



      It's desperately avoiding the grasp of a nearby sea star, which is interesting but not what we're interested in. Rather, notice how it bends its ring of tentacles nearly all the way to the ground.



      What if this wasn't a defensive mechanism, but rather an offensive one? Our supersized land anemones would remain quietly waiting until they detect prey pesky teenagers, either by touch or through the network of symbionts surrounding them. Once triggered, the entire crown of the tree, full of tentacles and the anemone's nematocysts, would smash down upon the prey.



      Considerations



      It'll take a some handwaving to make this happen, but that's mainly to do with the transition of the anemone from sea to land. Anemones are supported by water pressure, so our land versions would only be found in the dampest areas such as swamps.



      It's quite possible to imagine an anemone that ends up looking like a tree, especially if it's a strong evolutionary pressure. The stalk of the anemone might become tough, leathery and brown simply by drying out, giving a very bark-like texture. On land, zooxanthellae can be much more helpful given the higher intensity of sunlight, so they'd proliferate wildly. However, these symbionts are brown algae, so the tree canopy would remain a brownish golden color all year long



      As for the prey size requirements, the anemone is unlikely to notice small organisms relative to tree height, and would therefore only trigger once a certain size threshold is exceeded. That just happens to be the size difference between small animals and humans.



      Supersized heliozoans



      Heliozoans are a class of aquatic predators that look like underwater spikeballs:



      Heliozoan



      They act almost like underwater spiders, as they use those long, thin spines to catch prey, which are nearly invisible underwater. They're coated in a sticky substance that may have some paralyzing effects. They sit and wait for a prey item pesky teenagers to bump into a spine, at which point the spines actually retract with incredible speed- up to 2 body lengths per second. Prey Teenagers are then brought near to the cell body and digested.



      Fortunately for us, some species already come with trunks!



      Stalked heliozoan



      Considerations



      Again, these are aquatic creatures that don't like being suspended in the air. Fortunately, they also have a sporelike function that they'll use when food is scarce or the streams dry up. It's possible that such a heliozoan, once left in a dry streambed for long enough, will nonetheless try to feed. Realizing the vast amounts of food available, they'll be selected for size and eventually (with a tiny bit of handwaving) become the size of trees!



      The same size-requirements apply here. The tree wouldn't worry about small things touching its bark or leaves, but instead would use its energy to deter larger creatures that might actually threaten it. The spines would be set on a large-size trigger where a certain length must be touched, or perhaps multiple spines in a short time window, akin to the Venus flytrap triggers.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



















        6













        $begingroup$

        Supersized land anemones



        Meet the swimming sea anemone:



        Sea anemone swims away from sea star



        It's desperately avoiding the grasp of a nearby sea star, which is interesting but not what we're interested in. Rather, notice how it bends its ring of tentacles nearly all the way to the ground.



        What if this wasn't a defensive mechanism, but rather an offensive one? Our supersized land anemones would remain quietly waiting until they detect prey pesky teenagers, either by touch or through the network of symbionts surrounding them. Once triggered, the entire crown of the tree, full of tentacles and the anemone's nematocysts, would smash down upon the prey.



        Considerations



        It'll take a some handwaving to make this happen, but that's mainly to do with the transition of the anemone from sea to land. Anemones are supported by water pressure, so our land versions would only be found in the dampest areas such as swamps.



        It's quite possible to imagine an anemone that ends up looking like a tree, especially if it's a strong evolutionary pressure. The stalk of the anemone might become tough, leathery and brown simply by drying out, giving a very bark-like texture. On land, zooxanthellae can be much more helpful given the higher intensity of sunlight, so they'd proliferate wildly. However, these symbionts are brown algae, so the tree canopy would remain a brownish golden color all year long



        As for the prey size requirements, the anemone is unlikely to notice small organisms relative to tree height, and would therefore only trigger once a certain size threshold is exceeded. That just happens to be the size difference between small animals and humans.



        Supersized heliozoans



        Heliozoans are a class of aquatic predators that look like underwater spikeballs:



        Heliozoan



        They act almost like underwater spiders, as they use those long, thin spines to catch prey, which are nearly invisible underwater. They're coated in a sticky substance that may have some paralyzing effects. They sit and wait for a prey item pesky teenagers to bump into a spine, at which point the spines actually retract with incredible speed- up to 2 body lengths per second. Prey Teenagers are then brought near to the cell body and digested.



        Fortunately for us, some species already come with trunks!



        Stalked heliozoan



        Considerations



        Again, these are aquatic creatures that don't like being suspended in the air. Fortunately, they also have a sporelike function that they'll use when food is scarce or the streams dry up. It's possible that such a heliozoan, once left in a dry streambed for long enough, will nonetheless try to feed. Realizing the vast amounts of food available, they'll be selected for size and eventually (with a tiny bit of handwaving) become the size of trees!



        The same size-requirements apply here. The tree wouldn't worry about small things touching its bark or leaves, but instead would use its energy to deter larger creatures that might actually threaten it. The spines would be set on a large-size trigger where a certain length must be touched, or perhaps multiple spines in a short time window, akin to the Venus flytrap triggers.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$

















          6














          6










          6







          $begingroup$

          Supersized land anemones



          Meet the swimming sea anemone:



          Sea anemone swims away from sea star



          It's desperately avoiding the grasp of a nearby sea star, which is interesting but not what we're interested in. Rather, notice how it bends its ring of tentacles nearly all the way to the ground.



          What if this wasn't a defensive mechanism, but rather an offensive one? Our supersized land anemones would remain quietly waiting until they detect prey pesky teenagers, either by touch or through the network of symbionts surrounding them. Once triggered, the entire crown of the tree, full of tentacles and the anemone's nematocysts, would smash down upon the prey.



          Considerations



          It'll take a some handwaving to make this happen, but that's mainly to do with the transition of the anemone from sea to land. Anemones are supported by water pressure, so our land versions would only be found in the dampest areas such as swamps.



          It's quite possible to imagine an anemone that ends up looking like a tree, especially if it's a strong evolutionary pressure. The stalk of the anemone might become tough, leathery and brown simply by drying out, giving a very bark-like texture. On land, zooxanthellae can be much more helpful given the higher intensity of sunlight, so they'd proliferate wildly. However, these symbionts are brown algae, so the tree canopy would remain a brownish golden color all year long



          As for the prey size requirements, the anemone is unlikely to notice small organisms relative to tree height, and would therefore only trigger once a certain size threshold is exceeded. That just happens to be the size difference between small animals and humans.



          Supersized heliozoans



          Heliozoans are a class of aquatic predators that look like underwater spikeballs:



          Heliozoan



          They act almost like underwater spiders, as they use those long, thin spines to catch prey, which are nearly invisible underwater. They're coated in a sticky substance that may have some paralyzing effects. They sit and wait for a prey item pesky teenagers to bump into a spine, at which point the spines actually retract with incredible speed- up to 2 body lengths per second. Prey Teenagers are then brought near to the cell body and digested.



          Fortunately for us, some species already come with trunks!



          Stalked heliozoan



          Considerations



          Again, these are aquatic creatures that don't like being suspended in the air. Fortunately, they also have a sporelike function that they'll use when food is scarce or the streams dry up. It's possible that such a heliozoan, once left in a dry streambed for long enough, will nonetheless try to feed. Realizing the vast amounts of food available, they'll be selected for size and eventually (with a tiny bit of handwaving) become the size of trees!



          The same size-requirements apply here. The tree wouldn't worry about small things touching its bark or leaves, but instead would use its energy to deter larger creatures that might actually threaten it. The spines would be set on a large-size trigger where a certain length must be touched, or perhaps multiple spines in a short time window, akin to the Venus flytrap triggers.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          Supersized land anemones



          Meet the swimming sea anemone:



          Sea anemone swims away from sea star



          It's desperately avoiding the grasp of a nearby sea star, which is interesting but not what we're interested in. Rather, notice how it bends its ring of tentacles nearly all the way to the ground.



          What if this wasn't a defensive mechanism, but rather an offensive one? Our supersized land anemones would remain quietly waiting until they detect prey pesky teenagers, either by touch or through the network of symbionts surrounding them. Once triggered, the entire crown of the tree, full of tentacles and the anemone's nematocysts, would smash down upon the prey.



          Considerations



          It'll take a some handwaving to make this happen, but that's mainly to do with the transition of the anemone from sea to land. Anemones are supported by water pressure, so our land versions would only be found in the dampest areas such as swamps.



          It's quite possible to imagine an anemone that ends up looking like a tree, especially if it's a strong evolutionary pressure. The stalk of the anemone might become tough, leathery and brown simply by drying out, giving a very bark-like texture. On land, zooxanthellae can be much more helpful given the higher intensity of sunlight, so they'd proliferate wildly. However, these symbionts are brown algae, so the tree canopy would remain a brownish golden color all year long



          As for the prey size requirements, the anemone is unlikely to notice small organisms relative to tree height, and would therefore only trigger once a certain size threshold is exceeded. That just happens to be the size difference between small animals and humans.



          Supersized heliozoans



          Heliozoans are a class of aquatic predators that look like underwater spikeballs:



          Heliozoan



          They act almost like underwater spiders, as they use those long, thin spines to catch prey, which are nearly invisible underwater. They're coated in a sticky substance that may have some paralyzing effects. They sit and wait for a prey item pesky teenagers to bump into a spine, at which point the spines actually retract with incredible speed- up to 2 body lengths per second. Prey Teenagers are then brought near to the cell body and digested.



          Fortunately for us, some species already come with trunks!



          Stalked heliozoan



          Considerations



          Again, these are aquatic creatures that don't like being suspended in the air. Fortunately, they also have a sporelike function that they'll use when food is scarce or the streams dry up. It's possible that such a heliozoan, once left in a dry streambed for long enough, will nonetheless try to feed. Realizing the vast amounts of food available, they'll be selected for size and eventually (with a tiny bit of handwaving) become the size of trees!



          The same size-requirements apply here. The tree wouldn't worry about small things touching its bark or leaves, but instead would use its energy to deter larger creatures that might actually threaten it. The spines would be set on a large-size trigger where a certain length must be touched, or perhaps multiple spines in a short time window, akin to the Venus flytrap triggers.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 5 hours ago

























          answered 6 hours ago









          DubukayDubukay

          9,4444 gold badges29 silver badges69 bronze badges




          9,4444 gold badges29 silver badges69 bronze badges


























              5













              $begingroup$

              Mimosa pudica is well known for its peculiar feature of wrapping close its leaves when they are touched.



              Expand this to branches, not only to leaves, and you have the moving ability: from the opened state they get retracted and can look like the return phase of a punch.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$










              • 2




                $begingroup$
                This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
                $endgroup$
                – Renan
                7 hours ago















              5













              $begingroup$

              Mimosa pudica is well known for its peculiar feature of wrapping close its leaves when they are touched.



              Expand this to branches, not only to leaves, and you have the moving ability: from the opened state they get retracted and can look like the return phase of a punch.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$










              • 2




                $begingroup$
                This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
                $endgroup$
                – Renan
                7 hours ago













              5














              5










              5







              $begingroup$

              Mimosa pudica is well known for its peculiar feature of wrapping close its leaves when they are touched.



              Expand this to branches, not only to leaves, and you have the moving ability: from the opened state they get retracted and can look like the return phase of a punch.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$



              Mimosa pudica is well known for its peculiar feature of wrapping close its leaves when they are touched.



              Expand this to branches, not only to leaves, and you have the moving ability: from the opened state they get retracted and can look like the return phase of a punch.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 8 hours ago









              L.DutchL.Dutch

              109k33 gold badges256 silver badges525 bronze badges




              109k33 gold badges256 silver badges525 bronze badges










              • 2




                $begingroup$
                This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
                $endgroup$
                – Renan
                7 hours ago












              • 2




                $begingroup$
                This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
                $endgroup$
                – Bald Bear
                7 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
                $endgroup$
                – Renan
                7 hours ago







              2




              2




              $begingroup$
              This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
              $endgroup$
              – Bald Bear
              7 hours ago




              $begingroup$
              This, or some kind of fly-trap like plant that moves in response to touch. This tree has a mechanism that sufficient pressure on roots causes it to swing. It evolved as a defence against deer who eat leaves, or warthogs who dig roots. The link from roots to branches to is chemical. The "safety knob" is a chemical injector that counters tree's own chemicals.
              $endgroup$
              – Bald Bear
              7 hours ago












              $begingroup$
              some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
              $endgroup$
              – Bald Bear
              7 hours ago




              $begingroup$
              some examples of plants responding to physical trauma: earthsky.org/earth/plant-leaves-communicate-bug-attack-video, io9.gizmodo.com/…
              $endgroup$
              – Bald Bear
              7 hours ago












              $begingroup$
              @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
              $endgroup$
              – Renan
              7 hours ago




              $begingroup$
              @BaldBesr I laughed out loud imagining a deer approaching a plant and taking a sucker punch to the face.
              $endgroup$
              – Renan
              7 hours ago











              0













              $begingroup$

              I would combine aspects of two existing plants that are related to each other as closely as the Caryophyllales order.



              Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus) + Drosera regia (king sundew)



              The Saguaro already grows to 'tree-size', without any modification at all. Though well short of what most willow species are capable of achieving, if left to grow naturally, the saguaro can easily reach sizes rivaling the GIF you used in your question, due to the pollarding done to the willow (pollarding is the repeated pruning of branches at the same place, to start new branch growth from that same area)



              The king sundew provides the mobility, as it has leaves that can reach more than 2 feet long (giving it more than a 4 foot radius overall) which can coil and twist. It also provides (unexpectedly, considering its mobility) the woody aspect to the step of the overall organism. In an unmodified king sundew, this woody material is in it's stem which is generally entirely below surface level.



              Combine the woody stem from the sundew, with the size of the cactus, and you have a woody trunk that is tree size. Add the mobility of the sundew's leaves to the 'arms' or 'branches' of the cactus, and you get the ability to swing in, effectively, any direction, with the woody material limiting movement progressively as you move from the tips of the leaves toward the branches and then to the trunk.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$



















                0













                $begingroup$

                I would combine aspects of two existing plants that are related to each other as closely as the Caryophyllales order.



                Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus) + Drosera regia (king sundew)



                The Saguaro already grows to 'tree-size', without any modification at all. Though well short of what most willow species are capable of achieving, if left to grow naturally, the saguaro can easily reach sizes rivaling the GIF you used in your question, due to the pollarding done to the willow (pollarding is the repeated pruning of branches at the same place, to start new branch growth from that same area)



                The king sundew provides the mobility, as it has leaves that can reach more than 2 feet long (giving it more than a 4 foot radius overall) which can coil and twist. It also provides (unexpectedly, considering its mobility) the woody aspect to the step of the overall organism. In an unmodified king sundew, this woody material is in it's stem which is generally entirely below surface level.



                Combine the woody stem from the sundew, with the size of the cactus, and you have a woody trunk that is tree size. Add the mobility of the sundew's leaves to the 'arms' or 'branches' of the cactus, and you get the ability to swing in, effectively, any direction, with the woody material limiting movement progressively as you move from the tips of the leaves toward the branches and then to the trunk.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$

















                  0














                  0










                  0







                  $begingroup$

                  I would combine aspects of two existing plants that are related to each other as closely as the Caryophyllales order.



                  Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus) + Drosera regia (king sundew)



                  The Saguaro already grows to 'tree-size', without any modification at all. Though well short of what most willow species are capable of achieving, if left to grow naturally, the saguaro can easily reach sizes rivaling the GIF you used in your question, due to the pollarding done to the willow (pollarding is the repeated pruning of branches at the same place, to start new branch growth from that same area)



                  The king sundew provides the mobility, as it has leaves that can reach more than 2 feet long (giving it more than a 4 foot radius overall) which can coil and twist. It also provides (unexpectedly, considering its mobility) the woody aspect to the step of the overall organism. In an unmodified king sundew, this woody material is in it's stem which is generally entirely below surface level.



                  Combine the woody stem from the sundew, with the size of the cactus, and you have a woody trunk that is tree size. Add the mobility of the sundew's leaves to the 'arms' or 'branches' of the cactus, and you get the ability to swing in, effectively, any direction, with the woody material limiting movement progressively as you move from the tips of the leaves toward the branches and then to the trunk.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  I would combine aspects of two existing plants that are related to each other as closely as the Caryophyllales order.



                  Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro cactus) + Drosera regia (king sundew)



                  The Saguaro already grows to 'tree-size', without any modification at all. Though well short of what most willow species are capable of achieving, if left to grow naturally, the saguaro can easily reach sizes rivaling the GIF you used in your question, due to the pollarding done to the willow (pollarding is the repeated pruning of branches at the same place, to start new branch growth from that same area)



                  The king sundew provides the mobility, as it has leaves that can reach more than 2 feet long (giving it more than a 4 foot radius overall) which can coil and twist. It also provides (unexpectedly, considering its mobility) the woody aspect to the step of the overall organism. In an unmodified king sundew, this woody material is in it's stem which is generally entirely below surface level.



                  Combine the woody stem from the sundew, with the size of the cactus, and you have a woody trunk that is tree size. Add the mobility of the sundew's leaves to the 'arms' or 'branches' of the cactus, and you get the ability to swing in, effectively, any direction, with the woody material limiting movement progressively as you move from the tips of the leaves toward the branches and then to the trunk.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 1 hour ago









                  DalilaDalila

                  1,4684 silver badges25 bronze badges




                  1,4684 silver badges25 bronze badges






























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