Treebeard belongs to the giant tree-like race called the Ents.
Ents are ancient shepherds of trees in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Treebeard, whose Elvish name is Fangorn, is the oldest and most prominent Ent encountered by the characters in The Lord of the Rings. He lives in Fangorn Forest and meets Merry and Pippin after they escape from the Orcs.
The Ents were created to protect trees from the activities of other speaking peoples. Tolkien’s story emphasizes their extreme age, slow decision-making, and deep connection with forests. Their eventual assault on Isengard is one of the major turning points in the War of the Ring.
Ents are sometimes mistakenly described as ordinary animated trees. In Tolkien’s mythology, they are a distinct living people with their own speech, history, and society. Their wives, the Entwives, disappear before the events of The Lord of the Rings, and their fate remains unknown.