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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.7.3.pr-47.7.3.8

Legal Definition and Scope of Trees for Tree-Cutting Actions

Passage 7971 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpianus discusses whether various plants such as vines, ivy, reeds, willows, transplanted trees, and olive trunks fall under the legal definition of 'trees,' determining the scope of actions for cut trees.

[ULPIANUS libro quadragensimo secundo ad Sabinum. ] §47.7.3.prUitem arboris appellatione contineri plerique ueterum existimauerunt.
[ULPIANUS on Sabinus, book 42] Most of the ancient jurists held that a vine is contained under the appellation of a tree.
§47.7.3.1Ederae quoque et harundines arbores non male dicentur.
Ivy and reeds also will not incorrectly be called trees.
§47.7.3.2Idem de salicteto dicendum est.
The same must be said of a willow-grove.
§47.7.3.3Sed si quis saligneas uirgas instituendi salicti causa defixerit haeque, antequam radices coegerint, succidantur aut euellantur, recte Pomponius scripsit non posse agi de arboribus succisis, cum nulla arbor proprie dicatur, quae radicem non conceperit.
But if anyone has planted willow cuttings for the purpose of establishing a willow-grove, and these, before they have taken root, are cut down or pulled up, Pomponius rightly wrote that an action cannot be brought on the ground of cut trees, since nothing is properly called a tree which has not taken root.
§47.7.3.4Quod si quis ex seminario, id est stirpitus arborem transtulerit, eam, quamuis nondum comprehenderit terram, arborem tamen uideri Pomponius libro nono decimo ad Sabinum probat.
But if anyone has transplanted a tree from a nursery, that is, with its roots, Pomponius, in the nineteenth book on Sabinus, approves that it is nevertheless regarded as a tree, although it has not yet taken hold of the earth.
§47.7.3.5Ideo ea quoque arbor esse uidetur, cuius radices desinent uiuere.
Therefore, that one whose roots are ceasing to live is also regarded as a tree.
§47.7.3.5aRadix autem arboris non uidetur arboris appellatione contineri, quamuis adhuc terra contineatur: quam sententiam Labeo quoque probat.
However, the root of a tree is not regarded as contained under the appellation of a tree, although it is still contained in the earth; an opinion which Labeo also approves.
§47.7.3.6Labeo etiam eam arborem recte dici putat, quae subuersa a radicibus etiamnunc reponi potest, aut quae ita translata est, ut poni possit.
Labeo also thinks that that is rightly called a tree which, having been overturned from its roots, can even now be replanted, or which has been so transferred that it can be planted.
§47.7.3.7Stirpes oleae arbores esse magis est, siue iam egerunt radices siue nondum.
It is more probable that olive trunks are trees, whether they have already produced roots or not yet.
§47.7.3.8Omnium igitur harum arborum, quas enumerauimus, nomine agi poterit.
Therefore, an action can be brought on account of all these trees which we have enumerated.

Notes

  1. §47.7.3.3non posse agi de arboribus succisis — The present passive infinitive 'agi' of the verb 'ago' is used here impersonally to mean 'for an action to be brought.' The phrase 'de arboribus succisis' (concerning cut-down trees) serves as the name of the civil action originating from the Law of the Twelve Tables.
  2. §47.7.3.7arbores esse magis est — The phrase 'magis est' is an impersonal idiom meaning 'it is more likely the case' or 'it is more acceptable that.' It takes the accusative and infinitive clause 'stirpes oleae arbores esse' as its subject.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.7.3.pr-47.7.3.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.7.3.pr-47.7.3.8

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