Roger 0:02

Talking Trees with Lily and Jad . In today's episode , we'll explore the fascinating structure of wood , from its macroscopic features visible to the naked eye to the intricate composition of cell walls and the function of various cell types . On a microscopic level , We'll break down how growth rings are formed and what properties are influenced by the structure of the wood itself . We'll also highlight the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees , detailing the unique characteristics of their wood . Let's dive into the science behind what makes wood such an incredible natural resource .

Jad 0:42

Welcome to another Deep Dive , and today we are going deep into the world of wood .

Lilly 0:47

Okay .

Jad 0:48

Materials that I know you know better than just about anybody .

Roger 0:51

Yeah .

Jad 0:51

We're going to be looking at everything from those big , beautiful features that you see every single day out in the field .

Lilly 0:57

Right .

Jad 0:58

To the microscopic secrets that really determine a tree's strength , its health and its history .

Lilly 1:03

Yeah .

Jad 1:04

We've got some great technical articles to guide our conversation .

Lilly 1:07

Oh nice .

Jad 1:08

To make sure that we're giving you a fresh perspective on something that you work with literally all the time .

Lilly 1:14

It's funny how something so fundamental can still be full of surprises .

Jad 1:18

Right . Like I'm always impressed by the visual beauty of wood , yeah . You know , the latakri , the growth rings , rings , the jivavepa priski , which are the medullary rays , the sevi , which are the vessels . All those textures and variations in color are just fantastic to look at .

Lilly 1:34

It's true .

Jad 1:34

But as an arborist , you're not just appreciating the aesthetics , right , you're using those features to understand the tree itself .

Lilly 1:41

Absolutely . I mean , those growth rings aren't just pretty patterns , right ? They're like the tree's growth journal .

Jad 1:47

Oh , that's cool .

Lilly 1:47

You know , every year a tree adds a new layer of wood and the width of that ring tells a story .

Jad 1:54

Okay .

Lilly 1:54

So wider rings usually mean a good year , plenty of water and sunlight .

Jad 1:58

Okay .

Lilly 1:59

While narrow rings could indicate a period of drought or stress .

Jad 2:04

You can actually see how a tree has responded to its environment over time .

Lilly 2:07

Yeah , exactly Like a visual history laid out in front of you .

Jad 2:10

That's so cool .

Lilly 2:12

And the drosophila paprisci too .

Jad 2:14

The what now .

Lilly 2:15

The medullary rays , those rays that run perpendicular to the growth rings . Oh yeah , yeah , yeah . Like the tree's internal transport network , they move nutrients radially . Wow , their size and distribution can tell you a lot about the species .

Jad 2:28

Really .

Lilly 2:29

And even the types of stress the tree has endured .

Jad 2:31

It's amazing how much information is just packed into something that we see all the time . Now , thinking about your work as an arborist , imagine taking a cross section of a tree trunk .

Lilly 2:41

Okay .

Jad 2:41

And you see those distinct layers , starting with the central drench or pith , moving outwards through the adrevedrevel or heartwood Yep , the blowdrevel or sapwood Yep , then the canopy .

Roger 2:57

If you want to dive deeper into this topic and catch more of Lily and Jad's conversation , head over to wwwheroheroco . Slash talking trees . Your support means the world to us . It allows us to bring you the latest updates and insights from the world of arboriculture every single day . Thank you ,