Ents are the fictional tree-like people created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Ents are shepherds of trees in Middle-earth, and their best-known leader is Treebeard, also called Fangorn. In The Lord of the Rings, Merry and Pippin encounter Treebeard after escaping from the Orcs. Their meeting helps bring the Ents into the conflict against Saruman.
The Ents hold an Entmoot, a formal gathering, in Fangorn Forest. After considering Saruman’s destruction of the forests around Isengard, they march against the fortress and help destroy its industrial power.
Huorns are related but distinct tree-like beings, and the Eagles are intelligent flying creatures rather than tree people. Tolkien’s Ents also helped popularize the modern fantasy idea of living, speaking trees, although their name was influenced by the Old English word ent, meaning “giant.”