Podocarpus falcatus, the kalander, develops a mighty frame, given time and lots of it.

As a stand-alone, there will be more lateral growth and spreading limbs. In temperate rain forests the direction of growth will be more upwards, fewer branches retained on the way up.

Long term growth simplifies the lower structure, the retained parts major or gigantic. Smaller branches low down die off and disappear completely, their attachments becoming invisible as stem thickness allows the bark to smooth over insignificant detail; a bit like great leaders disregarding trivia.

Those that build houses and roads should heed the voices demanding, pleading for respect for the giant trees. They are leaders of their species on an earth where the exemplary, the quintessential makes way for masses of the ordinary. Preserve them as symbols of nature's heroic era that may only return after people.