What race of Middle-earth is Treebeard?

Treebeard is an Ent, an ancient race of tree-like beings in Middle-earth. He is also known as Fangorn, the name associated with both the character and the forest where he lives.

Ents are the “Shepherds of the Trees,” created to protect and care for the forests. In The Lord of the Rings, Treebeard explains that the Elves awakened the Ents and taught them to speak. Their long history reaches back to the Elder Days, making Treebeard one of the oldest living beings still walking in Middle-earth.

Treebeard meets Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took in Fangorn Forest after they escape from the Orcs. Their news about Saruman’s destruction of the trees helps persuade him to call an Entmoot. The resulting Last March of the Ents leads to the destruction of Isengard and the imprisonment of Saruman.

Ents are distinct from Huorns, though the two are closely related. Huorns are more tree-like and mysterious, while Ents are mobile, speaking guardians with their own language and history.