Tree Identification & Glossary : Glossary

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ROOTS

ACID SOIL – below pH of 7.
ALKALINE SOIL – above pH of 7
BADGERS – have their setts amongst tree roots bringing leaf litter near to the roots thus feeding the tree
CLAY – soil with particles typically less than 0.002 millimetres in diameter
CIRCUMNUTATION – the corkscrew movement of the root as it burrows through the soil
CORDATE SYSTEM – the roots form a ball under the trunk
FUNGI – most roots live in conjunction with fungi (symbiosis) which aid take up of food by breaking down nutrients, using enzymes – the fungi receive carbohydrates from the tree in return – particular types of fungi connect to particular trees, eg. Boletus are found with beech, oak and spruce
K – potassium is used particularly in the functioning of the stomata, in the creation of starch and the movement of carbohydrates
LATERAL ROOTS – grow from the tap root to form the shape of the root system
LATERAL SYSTEM – roots grow at a shallow level and have wide spread around tree
LOAM – soils that contain sand, clay and larger soil particles and organic matter
N – nitrogen is required for leaf development – it is in the soil in the form of nitrates.
NODULES – Swellings on roots, eg. Alder, which trap nutrients, such as nitrogen
NUTRIENTS – essential nutrients for trees are nitrogen (N) in different forms, potassium (K) and phosphorus (P).
P – phosphorus is required for general growth
pH – the acidity/alkalinity of the soil – tends to be acidic in a forest
PHREATOPHYTE – tree with a long tap root
PILLAR ROOTS – roots that grow from the lower tree branches to give extra support to the tree
RADICLE – primary root from seed that grows to become the taproot
ROOT CAP – covering at the tip of the root where the cells are continually growing
ROOT DEVELOPMENT – dependent on soil nutrients, soil density, water supply, pH (acidity/alkalinity), aeration of the soil, soil physical formation from fine clay to rock and boulder
ROOT HAIRS –thin growths on the root tips which collect water and nutrients from the soil
SOIL – contains minerals, water, air, nutrients from decaying materials such as leaf litter and organic matter, bacteria, fungi, algae and anchorage for trees
SUCKER – shoot growing from the roots of the tree rather than the trunk
SYSTEM – the area the roots cover underground – it is dependent on soil structure and where rain falls from the leaves - rain falls onto and along the leaves and branches and down the trunk or the crown is so dense, eg. Conifers, and the rain cannot penetrate the area close to the trunk – and the surrounding environment – a large tree can have millions of roots
TAPROOT – first root growing from the seed, usually withers once the laterals are established
TAPROOT SYSTEM – roots that go deep into the soil under the tree and start with a strong single root from the seed, often taking longer than usual to wither
WORMS – aerate the soil

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Page last updated: 30th Jun 2010