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Why is this plant's bark peeling?

Answer:

This is a Manzanita branch. The bark layer of a tree is made up of dead cells. As the tree grows thicker, the dead, outer bark does not grow, so it has to split or fall away. For many trees, it splits to form a rough exterior, but with some, such as the Manzanita, the bark peels away like a bad sunburn. This is an adaptation to prevent lichens from growing on the branches.
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