The “walking trees” of South America, particularly the Socratea exorrhiza , have fascinated scientists and locals alike with their unique ability to move across the forest floor. Found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Ecuador and other parts of Central and South America, these trees possess an extraordinary root system that allows them to “walk” in search of better sunlight and soil conditions. Socratea exorrhiza, commonly known as the walking palm, is distinguished by its stilt roots , which emerge from the trunk above the ground.
These roots provide stability in the loose, often muddy soil of the rainforest. The tree’s movement is a slow process, driven by the growth of new roots in the direction of more favorable conditions. As new roots anchor into the soil, older roots gradually lift and die off, giving the impression that the tree is walking.
Representative image This phenomenon was first brought to wider attention by Peter Vrsansky , a palaeobiologist from the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Vrsansky, along with local guide and conservationist Thierry García, documented the movement of these trees in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador. The reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site , is a biodiversity hotspot, home to thousands of plant and animal species.
Vrsansky’s observations revealed that the walking palms could move up to 20 meters over several years, a remarkable feat for a stationary organism. The walking palm’.