Trees that can walk up to 20m per year

But then, why all the confusion? Ultimately, it all seems to come down to that unique stilted root system. The ‘walking’ trees of Ecuador have a higher root system than other trees, starting near the bottom of their trunks. This makes the trees look more like an upright, walking broom than an actual tree. And, as the soil around them erodes, some of these weird-looking roots die off, leaving space for new roots to form.