alberi

Alberi are perennial woody plants characterized by a single main trunk that grows to a substantial height and supports a branching crown. The term alberi is Italian for trees, and it is used in Italian-language writing to refer to trees collectively. Trees form the dominant structure of many forests, parks, and urban landscapes, shaping ecosystems and land use.

Anatomy and growth: Trees produce secondary growth through a vascular cambium, generating wood (xylem) on the inside and bark (phloem) on the outside. This growth thickens the trunk and branches and enables upright form. In many temperate species, growth rings reveal age and historical environmental conditions; however, not all species form clear yearly rings.

Classification: Trees occur across many plant families and are divided mainly into angiosperms (flowering trees such as oaks, maples, and fruit trees) and gymnosperms (conifers such as pines and spruces). They can be deciduous, shedding leaves seasonally, or evergreen, retaining foliage year-round.

Ecology and services: Trees provide habitat and food for a wide range of organisms, stabilize soils, and regulate the water cycle. They store carbon in their wood, contribute to local climate regulation, and influence nutrient cycling through leaf litter and root activity. Canopies offer shade and microclimate modulation in urban and rural settings.

Uses and threats: Humans rely on trees for timber, fruit, shade, and ornamental value. Urban forestry supports air quality and cooling. Threats include deforestation, pests and diseases, and climate change. Sustainable management, conservation, and reforestation efforts aim to preserve tree diversity and the ecosystem services they provide.