The young ones grow up to resemble the old parts of the forest, but are not completely the same, just like your mother and you. However, they all have to face the same kind of environment. Roots operate in the soil, providing water and nutrients. Tree crowns rise high in the air, amidst light and oxygen. The home of roots and the home of leaves and flowers both crawl, bristle and swarm with life.
Roots live among bacteria, fungi, insects, worms and others creatures, sometimes closely associated.
Associations of roots with micro-organisms absorb water and process nutrients. Most nutrients from the soil are built into such nitrogen-rich substances as vitamins, proteins and their building blocks, aminoacids. Simply said, nitrogen products travel upwards inside the wood, from the soil towards the leaves. Leaves and flowers belong to trees, but also to other plants. Lianes attach supple, thin stems to or around tree trunks and branches, carrying leaves up high to the sun.