J.R.R. Tolkien describes the Ents as the tallest of the speaking peoples of Middle-earth.
Ents are ancient tree-like beings who guard forests and are especially associated with Fangorn Forest. Their name comes from an Old English word meaning giant. Tolkien presents them as shepherds of trees, with Treebeard—also called Fangorn—serving as the best-known Ent in The Lord of the Rings.
The Ents’ story becomes central when Merry and Pippin persuade Treebeard to consider the destruction caused by Saruman’s forces. The Ents hold an Entmoot, a formal council, and eventually attack Isengard. Their action helps bring down Saruman’s industrial stronghold.
Ents are sometimes confused with Huorns, which are related but more mysterious and less fully personified tree beings. Trolls are also large, but they are a separate race, and Tolkien’s descriptions do not make them the tallest speaking people in the same sense as the Ents.