ABSTRACT
This chapter begins to explore the cartography of the mutual implication of trees and culture. It reaffirms the tree as a category of life-form. The chapter argues that the assumptions and inferences made about trees are not solely derived from these evolutionary ecological principles, for trees also carry significant cultural baggage. It focuses on arbori-culture chimes with recent work in human geography and cultural studies which develops new cultural engagements with landscape. The chapter shows, tree-landscapes are bound up with all manner of powerful cultural constructions, not least national identity. It looks more closely at the involvement of trees in wider processes of production and consumption, noting with interest the roles which are allocated to trees, and the complex assumed meanings associated with these roles. Cross-cutting with but also extending beyond some of the above categorizations, based on the materiality of trees, are cultural edifices which emphasize various psychological realms of human identity and imagination.
