Eli5: Why and how do knots form in trees?
In: Biology
[removed]
Something to note beforehand:
Wood has a “direction” to it, that is that the grain goes along the length of the trunk or branch.
As the tree grows branch grow out from the trunk. The grain orientation of the trunk is vertical, whilst the branch grain follows the branch.
When the tree continues growing and upper branches develop, lower branches become useless and die off leaving their stump. As the tree grows further this stump becomes incorporated into the trunk, becoming the knot.
This stump had the original branch grain direction and that’s why when cutting though wood, encountering a knot can be hard to deal with.
Latest Answers