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Books

Roots

A Field Guide to Species Assessment

What do roots look like? Is it possible to determine in the field which tree species a root belongs to?

The appearance of tree roots has hardly been studied, but with increased knowledge and understanding, more trees can be preserved. This book provides a unique insight into what the roots of different trees look like and explores an underground world that has been sparsely described until now. Roots from 45 different tree species are presented with photographs and descriptions of each species’ anatomical characteristics, growth habits, and, in some cases, scent.

The book is practical in nature and enables you to identify tree species based on their roots in the field—whether you’re a professional or simply curious about one of the tree’s most important parts—the underground system where the exchange of nutrients, water, and gases takes place and forms the foundation for everything we see above ground.

First published in Norwegian as *Røtter: Identifying Roots in the Field* (1st edition) by Kolofon Forlag AS on May 23, 2023 © Kristin Moldestad and Olve Lundetræ.

ORDER THE BOOK HERE

Olve Lundetræ is a landscape worker and arborist. In his day-to-day work, he prunes and fells trees and supervises excavation work near trees. He is a partner and an active member of Aker trepleie AS. He has won the Norwegian tree-climbing championship four times.

Kristin Moldestad is a plant biologist and arborist. She is a partner at Trekontoret AS and works as a consultant specializing in tree conservation in urban environments. She also teaches tree care at Fagskolen Vestland, a well-known vocational college in Norway, and serves as an advisor to the nonprofit organization FAGUS, which focuses on sustainable tree care.