Scientists have mapped microbe populations in human guts, deep-sea ecosystems and even clouds. Yet the microbial communities inside tree trunks have remained largely unseen until now. For a recent ...

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk, branches, and twigs) is woody, composed of xylem cells that conduct water from the roots to the upper parts of the tree. That woody section is ...

In fall or winter, homeowners often discover young trees whose thin bark has been damaged by deer rub. Some trees may have patches where bark hangs in shreds, exposing the underlying wood; in others, ...

The bark of many pines and firs is scale-like, characterized by loonie-sized discs or plates that cover a tree. As these ...

Bark from a rainbow eucalyptus, by Christopher Martin. Older bark layers in shades of pastel purple, rusty red, and burnt orange peel away to reveal younger layers in chartreuse and dark green hues.