eli5: How can trees live for so long?

Question

I was just randomly thinking about the fact that some trees are over 10,000 years old. Other biennial plants don’t last that long, so what is it that helps trees survive for so long without withering into crumbs like other plants?

In: Biology

Answer 1

The living part of the tree is a thin membrane between the bark and the wood. The leaves fall away and compost around the base. The wood is the bodies of the previous year’s growth.