Mature Slits File

arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=791">Paper Birch develop these patterns as they age, or perhaps more about the biological function of lenticels ?

He led her closer, showing her how the slits allowed the internal tissues of the tree to exchange gases with the atmosphere. Without these "scars" of maturity, the tree would suffocate within its own growth. mature slits

"In the botanical world," Elias whispered, "the most beautiful specimens are the ones that aren't afraid to let their old skin break to accommodate their new strength. Those slits are proof that the tree has grown too big for its former self. It’s not falling apart; it’s finally opening up." arborday