Dendrophilia refers to a paraphilia characterized by an intense sexual attraction to trees or, more generally, to any plant with a tree-like structure. The term, of relatively recent conception, finds its etymology in the Greek word “déndron” – meaning “tree” – combined with the suffix “philia,” indicating a paraphilia. It is not easy to define this rare sexual interest, as its manifestations are highly varied. For some, it is primarily a mental attraction, existing at the level of fantasies, while for others it might also manifest in more physical characteristics, such as the desire to rub against trunks and branches.
Dendrophilia is one of the many paraphilias – currently estimated to be around 600 – that characterize human erotic attraction. However, it is important to specify that paraphilias should be considered atypical sexual interests, entirely acceptable despite being uncommon, as supported by the American Psychiatric Association. Instead, paraphilic disorders arise when these interests are not positively experienced by the individual, causing distress and dysfunction.
The passion directed towards plants and trees seems to have very deep roots in human history, so much so that it has emerged from the study of ancient tribal populations in South America. Many ancient civilizations, for instance, involved trees in certain sexual practices, mostly mild ones such as smelling the trunks of the most robust specimens to enhance male arousal within spiritual rituals. Experts believe that the association between plants and sex may stem from the vaguely phallic shape of trunks, which were historically seen as a supreme symbol of fertility. Over the years, various scholars have analyzed this paraphilia, often more simply a form of fetishism. In 1985, for example, researcher Thomas Gregor highlighted that forms of dendrophilia were present in ancient Amazonian civilizations, with at least a couple of historical accounts reaching the present day. One of these speaks of men ready to satisfy their sexual needs with holes found in the trunks, while others report the creation of male and female genitalia using branches and leaves, mainly for ritualistic purposes.
In most cases reported in scientific literature, as well as noted by Dr. Brenda Love – author of "Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices," the encyclopedia of unusual sexual practices – the paraphilia manifests in a harmless tactile manner. Many obtain physical and mental gratification simply by hugging a tree or gently caressing a bark. For others, however, a more sexually explicit contact is necessary: men, in particular, are more involved in acts of autoeroticism near plants or by taking advantage of the shapes of trunks and branches. In recent years, several incidents have surfaced in the international press, not for the paraphilia itself, but because they occurred in well-frequented and public places.
