TRUNK, BRANCH & TWIGS
ANNUAL RING – each indicates one year’s growth of the trunk. Formed by the spring and summer wood layers created by the cambium layer on the outside of the trunk. The width indicates how good the water and nutrient supply has been during the growth year.
BARK – the outer layer (skin) of a trunk providing a waterproof layer and protection to the inner layers
BARK BEETLES – eat the cellulose of the tree
BAST – lying outside the cambium layer and inside the bark this transports the carbohydrates created during photosynthesis
BOLE – trunk
BOSS – enlarged rough area of trunk from which many branches grow
CAMBIUM –- the outer, one cell thick, layer that covers all branches, trunk and some roots and creates each years growth on its inner edge : Bark cambium lies within the bark layer and aids growth of the bark
COPPICE – tree cut down to ground level regularly with stems growing from the stump
CROWN – branches and twigs coming from the trunk and usually at the top of a tree – a palm tree’s crown is purely leaves – the shape the crown takes varies according to species and tree age
DENDROCHRONOLOGY – obtaining a tree’s age from the growth pattern of its annual rings
DIFFUSE-POROUS – vessels of spring and summer wood similar size
DOZED – wood that has dark patterns or veins caused by fungi
EXTRACTIVES – gums and resins that are stored within the heartwood and harden forming pigments
GALL – when attacked by gall-mite (a type of spider), other insects, fungi or bacteria the tree grows a hard casing around it as protection
GRAFTING – the scion (segment of plant branch) is inserted into a cut in a branch/trunk of the stock (plant bearing roots) in order that their sapwoods can unite and the scion can become the main plant – propagation method to utilise the strength of a stock for a weaker plant
HEARTWOOD – the dense inner layers of the trunk which no longer carry the sap but provide strength and support for the tree and storage for nutrients (extractives)
LEADER – the tallest shoot from a sapling’s roots, which forms the trunk of a tree
LENTICELS – pores in the bark allowing oxygen to pass to the cells beneath
MERISTEM – the growing cells of the tree at the tip of the branch
PHLOEM – soft tissue within the trunk, the inner bark through which the sap travels from the leaves to the rest of the tree
POLLARD – tree cut to about 3m above ground creating a crown of many young branches
RAYS – routes from the outer layers to the heartwood for gums and resins
RING-POROUS – the spring wood vessels are larger than the summer wood vessels
SAPWOOD – the outer layers of trunk which carry the sap (water laden with nutrients) from the roots to the canopy
SPRINGWOOD – a thin light coloured layer of cells, laid down on the previous years wood, on the outside of the tree’s trunk under the bark
SPURS – peg-like projections from branch/twig carrying flower buds
STANDARD – tree grown to full height
SUMMERWOOD – a dense layer of strong cells laid down on top of the springwood, completing the trees growth for the year
TANNIN – acidic liquid, eg. Present in oak bark
TOPIARY – the crown is pruned into an ornamental shape, especially box and yew
WHORL – cluster of leaves on a branch
WITHY – willow shoots of one or two years old
XYLEM – woody tissue within the trunk carrying the water and minerals through the tree
A – buds are opposite each other eg. Ash
B – buds are alternate to each other eg. Willow
C – buds are clustered (whorls) eg. Oak
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