Tree, any woody plant of perennial duration, the natural habit of which is to rise from the ground with a distinct trunk, in contradistinction to Shrub, which naturally produces several stems more or less directly rising from the root. The terms are, however, somewhat arbitrary in their application. Trees are found in all climates except the coldest, but the number of species, as well as the luxuriance of the forests, is greatest in the tropics. As we advance towards the polar regions, or ascend high mountains, trees disappear before other forms of vegetation. The different characters of trees affect very much the landscape of the countries in which they grow; some countries, and particularly in northern parts of the world, being covered with sombre pine forests, whilst others abound in ash, beech, and similar trees of verdant foliage. Every kind of tree has its peculiar character, not only in its foliage, but in its general form and its mode of branching. An ash is as easily distinguished from an elm by a practised eye in winter when destitute of leaves as in the full foliage of summer. No acotyledonous plant assumes the character of a tree, except a few ferns known as Tree-ferns. See also ARBORICULTURE, GARDENING, TIMBER, TRANSPLANTING, WOOD; and for tree-worship, see PLANTS, p. 224.
In Law, trees and shrubs are fixtures, and on sale pass with the land to the purchaser. Except in nursery gardens, shrubs are reserved to the landlord. Even a lease of land with woods gives only the right of thinning plantations, cutting copsewood, and of cutting wood for repairing or building houses upon the ground, but not of selling wood. Injuries to trees are punishable at common law as malicious mischief.