Final answer:
Trees are recognized by their distinct features like leaves, bark, and form, as well as their role in ecosystems and symbolism in culture, such as the 'wolf tree', the Ginkgo biloba, or the 'Tree of Life' and 'Tree of Knowledge'.
Step-by-step explanation:
When students ask, 'What is a tree known by?' they are often inquiring about the characteristics that distinguish different types of trees. Trees, which fall under the study of Biology, can be known by various features including their leaves, bark, form, and habitat. For instance, a 'wolf tree' is a tree that grew in an open area and typically retains its lower branches due to lack of competition. The Ginkgo biloba, commonly referred to as the gingko, is a unique tree having distinctive fan-shaped leaves and is a living fossil that shows climate over millions of years. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), a well-known bromeliad, often grows in other trees like oak trees, and is another example of a prominent feature by which a tree can be recognized. In literature and folklore, trees are also symbolized for their wisdom or life, as seen in the references to the 'Tree of Life' and the 'Tree of Knowledge' from biblical texts.