Difference between revisions of "Tree"

{{quality|exceptional}}

Trees are used as a source of [[wood]], an essential resource in the game, irreplaceable (or hard to replace) for some applications. Thus the amount of local trees greatly affects fortress development, as without a ready source of wood the player will be forced to rely on [[trade]] to get it. Tree growth density on the embark site is determined by its [[biome]], so it's displayed with the rest of the biome properties (temperature, etc.) on the "Choose Fortress Location" screen at [[embark]].

Trees consist of several types of tiles - '''roots''', '''trunk''' sections, '''thick branches''', leafy '''branches''', and '''twigs''', that may be covered in a number of "growths" (leaves, needles, flowers, fruit, cones, etc.), depending on species and season. A single tree is a structure that can span multiple tiles of each type in both horizontal and vertical directions. For example, a typical deciduous tree will have a single tile-wide trunk at ground level supporting a multiple-level crown of intertwined trunk sections, branches and twigs covered with leaves. Not all species follow the same scheme, though - palms have a high, naked trunk that doesn't branch and just a tuft of leaves on top of it, and some species can have trunks that are thicker than a single tile at ground level. Trees also have an underground system of roots, but there is only one kind of root tiles and the extent of the root system doesn't seem to vary with species.

Graphically, vertical 1x1 trunk sections resemble wooden [[column]]s {{tile|O|6:0}}. The thicker trunks (2x2 and 3x3) are represented by rounded double-line structures. Above the first ground level the trunk may branch out, producing horizontal trunk sections that resemble wooden [[wall]]s {{tile|║|6:0}}. These can peter out into thick branches {{tile|│|6:0}} or end directly with leafy branches. A vertical trunk end, if not covered with a leafy branch, is represented by a cap character {{tile|⌂|6:0}}.

Root tiles ({{tile|¼|6:0}}) overlap a number of underground tiles below each tree. They can be designated for digging, but because they usually use the same brown color as the mining designation rectangle, the designation is not evident (the only exceptions are trees with white roots). Some trees can have multiple tiles of roots, others just the one;{{verify}} in either case, when a single tile of roots is dug out, the entire tree vanishes without a trace.

There are exceptions to the description above. [[Saguaro]]s don't have any leafy branches or twigs, just a trunk and thick branches. Most mushroom trees that grow in the caverns underground don't have branches - some have only a trunk and a cap

consisting of ramps that can be walked on.

Trees can be [[climb]]ed in both fortress and [[adventurer mode]]. In densely wooded areas, the overlapping tree crowns can form a continuous canopy that can be traversed by walking, climbing and/or jumping. Both types of branches provide floor-like support for walking, but twigs are too frail to support the weight of a dwarf. All kinds of trunk tiles are treated as solid barriers, except trunk tips - they can be walked and jumped over.

On ground level, tree trunks are obstacles that prevent [[channel]]ing or the creation of [[wall]]s and other [[construction]]s on their tiles. This is problematic for caravan [[wagon]]s, which require a path at least three tiles wide in order to access your fortress; on heavily forested maps it may be necessary to check [[trade depot|depot]] access ({{k|D}}) every once in a while as trees continue to grow to make sure wagons can get through, and chop down ({{k|d}}-{{k|t}}) the impeding forest if they can't. Later on this can actually become a blessing, as if there is only one or a few pathways to the fortress it makes it easier to route incoming caravans down certain well-defended pathways, instead of allowing them to choose their own way across the map, where they may fall foul of ambushers or worse. It also makes building above-ground constructions more challenging, as any trees in the way must be chopped down first.

Growths are the things that grow ''on'' a tree, i.e. they are not an essential part of the tree's structure and can be shed or picked without destroying the tree. This includes leaves, needles, flowers, fruit, seed pods, catkins, cones, etc. Each tree species has at least one type of growth, the most common one unsurprisingly being leaves.

The leaves of deciduous trees change color in the autumn, fall before the winter and grow back in the spring. Fallen leaves will color the tiles beneath their trees, turning the forest floor into colorful patchwork.

Trees of fruit-producing species usually grow flowers in spring and fruit later in the year. Flowers will fall in a cloud during the transition from flowers to fruit; the cloud is shown falling, and loo[k]ing at the ground after that will show "<tree> flowers" in addition to other tile contents. Both flowers and fruit appear and fall at set times through the year, so it's possible that a young tree that has never flowered to give fruit.

Fruit can be picked from trees in Adventure mode, but Fort mode harvesting is not yet in the game. Nevertheless, you can embark with fruit or acquire it from trade and brew it at a [[still]]. Fruit do fall on the ground in fortress mode, but they cannot be collected or brewed. Cutting a tree with fruit causes the fruits to vanish.

Trees can be cut down by dwarves to produce [[wood]]. It is enough to [[designate]] only one trunk tile for cutting to chop down the whole tree it belongs to. Any trunk tile will do, even those that are above ground, or even a single tile of a multi-tile trunk. As a result, it's impossible to "prune" trees by chopping down only parts of them.

One of the variation between the different tree species is in the weight and color of their wood. Weight is often a minor concern but when using wood to create objects that will be moved, such as bins or buckets, choosing lighter wood is an advantage as it will be hauled faster. Heavier wood will make wooden weapons and siege engine projectiles more effective, while lighter wooden shields reduce penalties to speed while blocking just as well as heavier shields.

Nonetheless, all trees have the same intrinsic value{{verify}} (beyond the [[preference]]s of individual dwarves), although the [[color]] of the wood may matter for aesthetic purposes.

Various kinds of tree produce fruit.  In [[dwarf fortress mode]], they can be gathered with a [[stepladder]], and [[Elf|elves]] will bring fruit to [[trading|trade]].  Fruit can be eaten, producing [[Seeds]].

Trees grow from '''saplings''', which start growing randomly on non-occupied tiles of a suitable biome; thus chopping down a forest may create a clearing, but within a couple of years a new forest will have grown. Saplings can be killed by heavy [[traffic|foot traffic]], but not by flooding &mdash; they can survive submergence for extended periods of time and will still grow to maturity once the water level drops to 4/7{{verify}} or lower. Dead saplings will remain for some seasons, and then disappear, more quickly if heavy traffic tramples them away. Growth from a sapling to a tree takes exactly 3 years. Many underground trees are called "young &lt;tree&gt;" instead of sapling, but the concept is the same. Saplings will not grow to maturity if their tile contains an item or building (including stockpile designations), though removing the item may cause the tree to spontaneously grow up. Paved [[road]]s and [[farm plot]]s periodically purge all terrain features below them, preventing trees (or shrubs) from growing in unwanted areas. Trees cannot grow on stairs or ramps, making it possible to keep trees out of your plumbing by using {{K|u}}p stairs instead of {{K|d}}igging (this does not reveal the tile above). Above-ground trees will only grow in areas where there is sufficient soil 1 Z-level beneath them (currently observed to be at least one unmined tile within a two-tile radius); underground trees not only ignore this restriction for dry subterranean soil but will also grow on muddy subterranean stone. Additionally, saplings on soil cavern floors will block the construction of farm plots unless there is also a dusting or pile of mud beneath them.

Trees ''cannot'' be specifically "planted"; even if a map is stripped of all trees, new saplings will regrow, randomly and in their own time. Sadly, the [[elf|elves]] do not seem to comprehend this. It is possible to [[tree farming|farm]] trees by walling off or engineering a patch of soil and locking it away so your dwarves don't trample all over it, but it will take a long time for the farm to yield results. After you expose the [[caverns]] subterranean flora (including trees) will begin to grow on any exposed and previously bare soil within your fortress; this can be annoying when a copse of blood thorns suddenly appears in your [[sand#Glass|sand collection]] area, but allows you to easily mine out large subterranean tree farms full of colorful subterranean trees.

== List of tree species ==

{{migrated section}}

A second trunk tile means that the trunk can branch horizontally. The first branch tile represents thick branches, the second, if present - branches covered with leaves/needles. Trees with leafy branches also have twigs.{{verify}} Mushroom caps are the same color as the trunk and consist of ramp-like and wall-like tiles.

{{multi-tile tree table head}}

{{multi-tile tree table row|name=[[Abaca]] |hab=Any Tropical |align=All (Dry) |root= |trunk= |branch= |growths={{tile|♠|2:0}} Leaves<br/>{{tile|♣|4:1}} Flowers|decid=No |wt= |pref=leaves}}

{{multi-tile tree table row|name=[[Acacia]]|hab=<span style="color:green">Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forest<br />Tropical Grassland<br />Tropical Savanna<br />Tropical Shrubland</span>|align=All (Dry)|root=|trunk={{tile|O|6:0}}{{tile|═|6:0}}|branch={{tile|─|6:0}}{{tile|¼|2:0}}|growths={{tile|♠|2:0}} Leaves<br/>{{tile|♣|7:1}} Flowers<br/>{{tile|%|2:1}} Seed pods |decid=No |wt=0.600 |pref=thorns}}

{{multi-tile tree table row|name=[[Alder]]|root= |trunk= |branch= |growths={{tile|♠|2:0}}{{tile|♠|6:1}}{{tile|♠|4:1}}{{tile|♠|4:0}} Leaves<br/>{{tile|*|4:0}} Pollen catkins<br/>{{tile|*|6:0}} Seed catkins<br/>{{tile|*|6:0}} Cones |hab=<span style="color:green">Any Temperate Broadleaf Forest</span>|align=All (Dry)|decid=Yes|wt=0.410|pref=catkins<br />autumn coloration}}

{{multi-tile tree table row|name=[[Apple]] |hab=Any Temperate |align=All (Dry) |root= |trunk= |branch= |growths={{tile|♠|2:0}}{{tile|♠|6:1}}{{tile|♠|4:1}}{{tile|♠|4:0}} Leaves<br/>{{tile|♣|5:1}} Flowers<br/>{{tile|%|4:0}} Fruit |decid=Yes |wt=0.600 |pref=fruit}}