Of course, we rarely think about the plants that face similar struggles, like the dragon's blood trees of Socotra, Yemen. These unusual trees only grow on one small island on Earth.

Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragon’s blood trees creep along at just 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) annually.

Dragon's blood trees are seen from the highest peak on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 19, 2024. Credit: AP/Annika Hammerschlag But the tree is more than a botanical curiosity: It’s a pillar ...

Invasive goats endanger young trees But storms aren’t the only threat. Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragon’s blood trees creep along at ...

Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragon’s blood trees creep along at just 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) annually.

Based in Senegal, climate reporter Annika Hammerschlag first heard about the dragon’s blood tree—a rare, umbrella-shaped species found only on the remote island of Socotra—in 2020. It took years to ...

These surreal trees survived for centuries. Scientists worry for their future The dragon's blood tree is more than a botanical curiosity: It’s a pillar of Socotra’s ecosystem.

Invasive goats endanger young trees But storms aren’t the only threat. Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragon’s blood trees creep along at ...

Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragon’s blood trees creep along at just 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) annually.