The exterior bark of longleaf pine grows in sacrificial, layered flakes. This sacrifice brings enflamed bark away from the tree, keeping the inner living layers and upper canopy free from fire damage.
The longleaf pine survives wildfires due to sacrificing its multi-layered outer bark by passively flicking burning flakes of layers away, ensuring the protection of inner living wood. This phenomenon allows the tree to survive and recover quickly from fires because the life-sustaining system is preserved. The strategy could be applied to home protection or protective gear for people.
