Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees

page numbers in parentheses. italics are my own questions of the text.

Chapter 6 Notes

Chapter 5 Notes

Chapters 3 & 4 Notes

Chapter 2 Notes

Foreword, Introductions, and Chapter 1 Notes

Chapter 7 Forest Etiquette

features of a mature well-formed deciduous (37)

• in youth

• narrow branches

• extend away from trunk

• die off

• sealed with new bark

• smooth column

• straight trunk

• regular arrangement of wood fibers

• long and smooth

• roots stretch out evenly in all directions

• reach down into earth under tree

• top

• symmetrical crown

• strong branches

• angling upward

same for conifers except

• topmost branches horizontal (or bent slightly downward)

STABILITY

• windstorm can tear at base of trunk with a force of 220 tons (38)

problematic tree shapes

• curved trunk

• difficult to just stand there (38)

• weight of crown not evenly distributed over trunk diameter

• tree reinforces wood in that area

• dark areas in growth rings

• less air and more wood

• forked trees

• each have their own crown

• both swing back and forth in different directions (39)

• U shaped

• tree can make it

• V shaped

• fork breaks at narrowest point

• thick bulges of wood to try and prevent further damage

• bacteria blackened liquid constantly seeps from wood

• water gathers = rot

• banana shaped trunks

• lower part sticks out at an angle (40)

• due to snow or earth slide

trees grow only from the tip (40) what does that mean exactly? tip? tips

conifers grow straight or not at all (41)

• except pines

• crown points towards light

• highest breakage rate due to snow