Prologue. Time ; Trees ; Identity

The living tree. Energy ; Growth ; Stature ; Sex ; Gender ; Seeding ; Resilience

Origin and prehistory. Origins ; Ancestry ; Relationships ; Recognition ; Proliferation ; Winnowing ; Persistence ; Prosperity

Decline and survival. Constraint ; Retreat ; Extinction ; Endurance ; Relic

History. Antiquity ; Reprieve ; Voyages ; Renewal ; Naming ; Resurgence

Use. Gardens ; Nuts ; Streets ; Pharmacy

Future. Risk ; Insurance ; Gift ; Legacy

Appendix. List of common plant names used in the text and Latin equivalents.