Twisted Tree
This weathered western red cedar snag exhibits the most extraordinary spiral-grain that I have ever seen for a cedar tree. The angle of the grain is almost completely horizontal near the top! Note that a background cedar has straight grain (top photo). There are different hypothesis for why certain trees develop spiral-grain. Some hypotheses suggest that spiral-grain helps connect roots on one side of a tree to a more healthy productive crown on other sides of the tree. The spiral-grain may also be a response to stress and it can help provide structural reinforcement against the wind. This may be true for leaning and asymmetric trees that are affected by strong winds.