I only read the article, but a couple questions, Botany. Don't trees just follow the sun, to stay away from one another's shade? Making some weird shapes sometimes because of it? As for roots, aren't they just following the path of least resistance?

In British Columbia they have found out that Douglas Fir and Birches
talk to and feed each other.

In Germany the author found out that beech trees were keeping the
stump of the "mother tree" alive more then 100 years after the main
body of the tree had fallen.

Learned something interesting a few months ago.
we live where a powerful hurricane passed thru in 2004. Many trees in our region are leaning, to various degrees. One tall hickory near the corner of my house has a 15 degree lean, and yet has remained healthy
and "upright" for 13 years now.
Come to find out...when trees develop a lean, they produce special wood cells that are very strong, like cement, so to speak, and that holds the leaning part more firmly.
also, it does help that down here that wild grape and Ivy and a bunch of other climbing vines grow up trees.

thanks for the link, botany.

It's on my book list. Have you read Botany of Desire? I would describe it as more anthropological, but it really was a great book.


Peace