Survival?

From the Tarot of the Sidhe, the Maker Four (Four of Pentacles); from the Green Man Tree Oracle, White Poplar:

Carding describes the great canopy of this tree as taking up all the sunlight and leaving none for any plants that might try to grow beneath it. Similarly, many plants are allelopathic, meaning their leaves, flowers or roots contain chemicals that prevent other plants from growing near them. It's simply a means of survival in nature by eliminating some of the competition. Yet humans can do the same - just watch what happens at the grocery stores when there is an impending hurricane or when supply chain issues create shortages. Some may call their excessive hoarding a survival technique, but it is simply a selfish reaction to fear. Likewise, White Poplar is a tree that is useful in flood zones; its tolerance of salt has made it a wise planting choice for strengthening coastal sand dunes. But in non-native environments, such as the U.S. and Australia, it quickly becomes a weedy invasive. This tree asks us, "Are we taking or hoarding more than we need?"