“Oak-inhabiting mistletoes (Phoradendron spp.) are hemiparasites, meaning they are just a little bit parasitic. They photosynthesize 98% of their energy with their own green leaves, but they do sink roots into host branches that penetrate the xylem and suck up some water. Studies on California mistletoe, a hemiparasite on several western oak species, showed that it had no ill effects on its host oaks and acted more like an epiphyte than a parasite (Koenig et al. 2018).”
― The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
― The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
“The Romans, Danes and the nobles of England were in search of natural resources, principally timber. The colonization of Wales was the first expression of an economic system founded on overreach: having exceeded the limits of what their own environment could sustain, early mercantilists applied force to acquire tribute and resources elsewhere. Empire, whether British, Viking, Roman or otherwise, is by definition overreach. And colonialism, capitalism and white supremacy share a common, perverse philosophy: limits on some humans’ freedom of action are seen as an affront to the principle of freedom itself. The exact opposite of the coevolutionary dynamic of the forest.”
― The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth
― The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth
Adam’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Adam’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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