The story could then have gone the rounds and eventually reached the ears which were most likely to be attracted by the characteristics of that tree.
(The story; reached; the ears which were most likely to be attracted by the characteristics of that tree; T:then; T:eventually) (the ears; were; most likely to be attracted by the characteristics of that tree)
The story the ears
reached were
the ears which were most likely to be attracted by the characteristics of that tree T:then T:eventually
most likely to be attracted by the characteristics of that tree