"Debunking the Myth: Can Trees Really Walk?"

The walking palm (Socratea exorrhiza), a tree rumored to move through the rainforests of Central and South America, does not actually walk. Despite tales of its ability to chase sunlight by moving up to 20 meters a year, studies by tropical ecologist Gerardo Avalos and others have debunked this myth, showing that while the tree can grow new roots to stabilize itself, it remains fixed to its place of germination. The long stilt roots of the walking palm are thought to help the tree exploit light gaps in the dense rainforest canopy, rather than for locomotion.