I was curious and looked it up. Apparently it mostly happens between trees of the same species, with several causes.

Most are mechanical. The tips brush against each other, and damage new branches and leaves. Both trees divert growth away from the area.

Some also sense shading via red light. They focus growth away from shade. This means neither tree grows into the gap, since they are partially shading each other.

It also helps limit the spread of leaf eating parasites. Again, particularly useful in a forest of the same species.

So yes, the trees are social distancing, to avoid the spread of disease.

Looks like a voronoi noise texture.

im so glad that we aren't the only species that do hoverhands.

my sibling, putting their finger close but not on me: I'm not touching you!

Me, who understands matter never touches because of electromagnetic forces putting my finger on my sibling: I'm not touching you!

They‘re just like me fr

The Witness has rewired my brain to look for dot line patterns.

This is real? I read about it in a scifi (or rather solar punk) novel and thought it's a metaphor or something