Editing v0.34:Tree

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 (beyond the [[preference]]s of individual dwarves), although the [[color]] of the wood may matter for aesthetic purposes.

Viewed on their same [[z-level]], many different sub-types of trees have their own symbol, such as {{tile|♣|2:0}}, {{tile|♠|2:0}}, {{tile|¶|2:0}}, {{tile|╞|2:0}} or {{tile|⌠|2:0}}. Some share the same symbol, but since the differences are only in preferences, this is not a significant problem (see table below for symbol pairings). For most purposes, a tree is a tree. Trees viewed from one z-level higher look like coloured rectangles ( {{tile|■|2:0}} ), appearing identical to coloured [[block]]s floating in the air. Deciduous trees will change colour to red or yellow in [[autumn]] ( {{tile|♣|4:1}}, {{tile|♠|6:1}} ), and lose their leaves in [[winter]] ( {{tile|╞|6:0}} ) (controlled by the [AUTUMNCOLOR] tag). This does not affect their usefulness, and they may be cut down for wood regardless of season.

[[Woodcutter|Chopping down]] trees yields [[wood]] (obviously), one of the game's most important resources. Without wood it is not possible to build [[bed]]s, generate or transfer [[power]], create [[ash]], or power [[furnace]]s without [[magma]] (unless [[coal]] is available), and since wood is easily craftable many items become more difficult to craft. Thus a lack of trees can be an important deterministic factor in fortress development, as without a ready source of wood the player will be forced to rely on [[caravan]]s for wood item production and possibly [[magma]] for metal-forging (that being said, it is not impossible to circumvent). The density of growth on the embark site is determined by the [[biome]], and those are visible on the pre-[[embark]] screen by hitting {{k|F1}}, {{k|F2}} etc. The tree density of the biome does not change as there are no climate shifts during game play, but heavy woodcutting activity will eventually strip any [[forest]] bare. Trees are currently not a source of food or other material, so it is not possible to harvest mangoes, maple syrup, nuts, rubber, etc. {{version|0.34.11}}

Trees are a type of [[map tile]] and as such will form a solid barrier to movement, preventing [[channel]]ing or the creation of [[wall]]s and other [[construction]]s on their tile. 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. Trees do not form a floor on the level above them (creatures cannot walk "on top of" trees), though both creatures and items can get stuck on top of trees if they manage to be thrown there. Currently there is no way to get down from the top of a tree in [[Adventure mode]].

[[File:Many miners extend tree farm.png|thumb|left|350px|Extensions being made to a in-hill tree farm.]]

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 — 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 months and 16.8 days, a surprisingly short duration. Many underground trees are called "young <tree>" 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.