Research Suggests Ponderosa Pine Trees Hold Their Breath to Avoid Breathing Wildfire Smoke
It seems they don’t like breathing smoke any more than we do
Several years ago, a friend showed me his small bamboo plant and told me it was the only plant he could keep alive — but all I could focus on was the thick layer of dust coating its leaves. Looking at it, my throat tightened like when I walk through a smoke cloud. I quickly and instinctively walked away and returned with a damp cloth to clean the leaves while my friend watched me, understandably perplexed.
“What are you doing?” he asked me.
“Dusting the leaves so the plant can breathe,” I replied.
My friend looked from me to the plant and said, “I never even thought of that.”
Don’t worry. I also adequately praised his bamboo and knew he wouldn’t be offended by me cleaning its leaves. I’m only sharing this memory because it popped into my head several times while writing this article.
With wildfires becoming increasingly common due to human-induced climate change, we’re forced to deal with the smoke that comes with them, which can poison clean air for miles. But while you and I can go indoors and do our best to avoid the toxic air, trees and other plants don’t have…
