What's The 'Lepidodendron Tree' Meme? The Creepy TikTok Trend Based On A 'Rip In The Fabric Of Time' Explained

A cursed tree called the Lepidodendron tree is scaring TikTok but is also gaining fan art at the same time.

This latest trend is based on a warning infographic, reading, "Attention: have you seen this tree?" It proclaims that if you've seen it, you should "remain calm" because you might be in "some sort of rip in the fabric of time" because — well —
the tree's been extinct for millennia.

So, have you seen this tree before? Should you be worried? Please, remain calm. Let's explain.

What Is The 'Lepidodendron' Tree?

For starters, the word Lepidodendron is an extinct genus of tree with many different tree species. The trees existed way before humans, approximately 358.9 to 298.9 million years ago, in what's commonly known as the Carboniferous era.

Physically, Lepidodendron tree species were scaly and are often referred to as "scale trees" in Layman's terms. In this way, they resemble the modern palm tree. If you want to read more about them, check out the blog "The Rise and Fall of the Scale Trees."

Where Did The 'Lepidodendron Tree' Meme Come From?

As far as we know, the meme's first upload was on August 12th, 2021, to the under-spoken website iFunny, shared by iFunnier @RexyPaleontology. Soon after, it was reposted by another user who gained a lot more likes, roughly 31,000 of them.

What Is The 'Lepidodendron Tree' TikTok Trend?

Two years after the original meme's upload, TikTokers have discovered the strange and surreal infographic, sharing it in photo slideshows with other cursed images.

Because the infographic warns of being in "some sort of rip in the fabric of time," some meme creators on the app started to humorously imagine a scenario where they're late for an event. In the scenario, when one of their friends calls them to ask, "Where are you?" it's revealed that they have entered that "rip in the fabric of time," showing them face-to-face with a Lepidodendron tree.

The joke has since evolved into a full-fledged meme trend. Many artists on the app are using the trend to flex their skills, portraying their original characters in animations where the punchline is the dreaded Lepidodendron tree.

Also, a plethora of similarly creepy infographics have surfaced out of the trend. In them, meme creators reference other extinct species of animals and plants. For instance, many of the iterations so far have name-dropped "Attention: Have you seen this bird?"

What Is The 'Lepidodendron Tree' TikTok Song?

The scary song used in almost all of the "Lepidodendron tree" memes is called "空間攻撃からの脱出" by Rory in early 20s. It was released on YouTube in 2021.

For the full history of the Lepidodendron tree, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.