Trees

Title

Trees

Authors

Nathaniel Lord Britton

Description

TREES

As the largest and most conspicuous of land plants, trees interest more people than any other category. We seek to define them as woody, upright plants, of large, or considerable size, mostly with only one stem, or trunk; there are, however, a few kinds which normally have several trunks together, and a few other kinds, after cutting, or breaking of the trunk, develop several or many secondary stems,called suckers, some of which may attain large dimensions.

The multifarious uses of trees and their products are widely understood and appreciated, but trees do not always escape damage or destruction by vandalism, or carelessness. The very important functions of forests in conserving rainwater, thus regulating the flow of rivers, and reducing soil-erosion, have come to be generally recognized; reforestation of denuded regions, for increasing areas thus protected, and for fuel and timber, has reached extensive development.

We group the trees included in this work as follows:

a. Coastal, or maritime, native species. Trees growing naturally only within saline influence; the four kinds of mangroves can exist only within this influence, forming manglares, or mangrove swamps.

b. Native species mostly inhabiting only the dry districts. Few of these reach large size, but occasional exceptions may be seen where the roots reach an abundant supply of water.

c. Native species mostly of wet or moist districts. These form most of the forests and woodlands, many reaching, large dimensions.

d. Native species of more general distribution. Some native kinds of trees may thrive under great differences of rainfall.

e. Naturalized, or introduced species, locally, or generally distributed. Many valuable trees have been brought here from other tropical regions.