A decoder for decoding an array of information samples encoded in a data stream, which represents a picture, the decoder configured for extracting, for a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the array of information samples according to a multi-tree subdivision, a coding parameter from the data stream in a deep-first traversal order, with extracting, for a predetermined block, a merge indicator which is indicative of whether the coding parameter of the predetermined block is to be obtained based on a coding parameter of a previously decoded block, identifying a set of previously decoded blocks in a neighborhood of the predetermined block, forming, based on a signaling in the data stream, a candidate set of blocks as a subset of the set of previously decoded blocks, so as to obtain a set of coding parameters based on the candidate set of blocks, checking a number of blocks of the candidate set of blocks, if the merge indicator indicates that the coding parameter of the predetermined block is to be obtained based on the coding parameter of the previously decoded block, and if the number of blocks in the candidate set of blocks is greater than one, extracting information related to a candidate identifier from the data stream, selecting a merged partner block from the candidate set of blocks in accordance with the candidate identifier; copying a predetermined coding parameter of the merge partner block as the coding parameter of the predetermined block, and reconstructing the predetermined block based on the coding parameter of the predetermined block, wherein the merge indicator and the information related to the candidate identifier are entropy-coded using context modeling. extracting, for a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the array of information samples according to a multi-tree subdivision, a coding parameter from the data stream in a deep-first traversal order, with extracting, for a predetermined block, a merge indicator which is indicative of whether the coding parameter of the predetermined block is to be obtained based on a coding parameter of a previously decoded block, identifying a set of previously decoded blocks in a neighborhood of the predetermined block, forming, based on a signaling in the data stream, a candidate set of blocks as a subset of the set of previously decoded blocks, so as to obtain a set of coding parameters based on the candidate set of blocks, checking a number of blocks of the candidate set of blocks, if the merge indicator indicates that the coding parameter of the predetermined block is to be obtained based on the coding parameter of the previously decoded block, and if the number of blocks in the candidate set of blocks is greater than one, extracting information related to a candidate identifier from the data stream, selecting a merged partner block from the candidate set of blocks in accordance with the candidate identifier; copying a predetermined coding parameter of the merge partner block as the coding parameter of the predetermined block, and reconstructing the predetermined block based on the coding parameter of the predetermined block, extracting information related to a candidate identifier from the data stream, selecting a merged partner block from the candidate set of blocks in accordance with the candidate identifier; copying a predetermined coding parameter of the merge partner block as the coding parameter of the predetermined block, and reconstructing the predetermined block based on the coding parameter of the predetermined block, wherein the merge indicator and the information related to the candidate identifier are entropy-coded using context modeling.