Tree dictionary & Glossary
A
Afforestation
the
planting of trees on previously unwooded land
Abiotic of
the weather. Damage caused by the weather
Acid grassland developing
grassland over nutrient poor acidic soils
Acid soils usually
formed on sandstone. Limited basic mineral content. Ie peaty soils
Acidification process
of a combination of acid rain accumulation & leaching of rainwater through
geology & soils
Adjuvant herbicide
additive used to enhance phytotoxicity (killing effect)
Adverse slope uphill
incline
Aesthetics for
forest value,rooted in beauty and visual appreciation
Agitation mixing
of a liquid preparation of pesticide by shaking or stirring
Agroforestry the
growing of trees on land also used for the production of crops and livestock
Amenity pleasant
or usual feature or facility, pleasantness of a place
Ancient woodland sites
with a proven tree cover for at least 230 years. Wooded on maps from 1750 (Scotland)
Annual ring ring
of wood laid down in a stem & branch of a tree/shrub during one growing
season
Apical leading
shoot or leading bud of a tree - the very tip of the tree
Approved product pesticide
which has been approved for use on the grounds of safety & efficacy
Arboretum a
collection of native, exotic or specimen trees
Arboriculture the
cultivation of trees and shrubs for ornamental/landscape use
Archaeology study
of ancient peoples and their living condition/environment. Excavation of physical
remains
Aspect direction
toward which a slope faces.
Assart historical
term for woodland cleared for arable production
B
Bare-root
trees trees
lifted from nursery without soil around the roots
Bark protective
skin/tissue of a woody stem
Bast another
name for phloem, fibrous material obtained from the phloem
Beating up operation
involving replacing failed/dying trees in new plantations
Biodiversity the
diversity of plants, animals, and other living organisms in all their forms
and communities
Blaze to
mark a tree by removing bark with a slasher for felling/thinning or measuring/tariffing
Bole stem/trunk
of a tree
Boreal coniferous
forest in the north of the N. hemisphere - climatic zone short summers long
winters
Boreal region forest
areas of northern North temperate zone, mainly coniferous species spruce, pine
and fur
Brash cutting
of lower branches of mainly conifers to improve access
Brash mat brash
placed in rows on which harvesting & extraction vehicles run to reduce soil
erosion/compaction
Breast height 1.3m (43inches). Point
at which girth is measured on a standing tree (dbh) diameter breast height
Browsing stripping
or fraying the bark off young trees by deer
Bryophytes mosses
& liverworts (lichen like plant with lobed leaves)
Butt stump
end of a timber log
Butt rot most
serious, common place disease in British forestry-fungal infection of the roots
and lower stem
Buttress projection
of spurs near the base of a tree
C
Calibration
process
of calculation/measurement/adjustment to ascertain the correct application chemical
rate
Callus healing
tissue formed by the cambium layer around wounds/pruning cuts
Cambium cellular
tissue beneath a tree's bark, n which the annual growth of wood and bark grows
Canker disease
damage area of a tree usually caused by bacteria or fungus
Canopy the
upper most leafy layer of woodland structure
Carr fen scrub,
wet boggy area
Catkin male
or female flower hanging in chains, they lack petals because they are wind pollinated
flowers
Check used
to describe trees growing slowly due to poor drainage or nutrient deficiency
Chlorosis loss
of green colour in green foliage
Cleaning removing
unwanted tree or shrub growth with bill hook/axe
Clearfelling felling
operation that removes all trees in the compartment in one go
Clinometer
instrument used for measuring angle of slopes or the height of trees
Climax forest forest
community that represents the final stage of natural forest succession for its
environment.
Coarse grass imprecise
term used to describe grasses of tall, bulky, rank, stiff & often tussocky
nature
Compartment management
area in a woodland usually denoted by number & sub-cpt denoted by letter
Coniferous cone
bearing trees
Conversion cutting
up of felled tree into desired lengths
Coppicing cutting
broadleaves to expose the stump encouraging the growth of slender shoots
Copse another
name for a coppice
Coupe group
or groups of trees planned for clear felling over a period of time
Crown
spreading branches and foliage of a tree
Crown lifting removing
lower branches of a tree, leaving the upper crown to flourish
Crown reduction pruning
back the crown to its main branches to maintain overall shape
Cultivar variety
of plant produced by cultivation
Cultivation to
prepare the soil for planting by ploughing, mounding or scarifying
D
Deciduous
a tree that shed
leaves/needles (larch spp) annually
Deer cull agreed
& selected number of deer to be shot in a given area on an annual basis
Deer glade designed
feature in a area of forest used for deer management/culling
Drip line the
ground below the outermost branches where most of the feeding roots are concentrated
Dutch Elm Disease
fungal tree disease first introduced in the 1930's - carried by beetles.
Dyeing stumps
an application of urea/dye to conifer stumps which prevents the spread of infection
to nearby trees
Dyke dry
stone wall
E
Ecology
the study of relationships between living organisms & their environment
Edaphic relating
to the physical and conditions of the soil
Epicormic twigs
sprouting directly out of the main stem
Epicormic shoots sprouting
shoots from dormant buds on a trees main stem
Epiphyte plant
growing on another without being parasitic
Establishment first
5 to 10 years formative period where trees are expected to grow
Evergreen tree
or shrub that retains its leaves all year round and/or several years
Exotic species tree
introduced from overseas
Extraction transport
of timber from the woodland to roadside using a Forwarder (purpose built forest
vehicle)
F
Feathered
tree tree
well furnished with branches
Felling license application
to the Forestry Commission who grant legal permission to fell trees.
Fen low
lying flat land that is marshy or artificially drained
Feral
domesticated animal that now lives in the wild, e.g..
cat, goat
Flush area
receiving nutrient rich runoff
Flushing bursting
of buds in spring
Forest large
area of land covered chiefly with trees and associated undergrowth
Forest Enterprise agency
of the Forestry Commission responsible for managing FC's forest estate
Forest ranger government
official who patrols & protects forest/wildlife
Forest Research agency
of the Forestry commission responsible for development,surveys & advice
to UK forestry Ind.
Forestation the
planting of trees over a wide area
Forester
person skilled in forest management
Forestry
management of forests
Fraying
deer using their antlers to
abrade & partially remove the bark from stems & branches
G
Generic not
specific or special
Genetics study
of heredity and variation and plants
Genotype true
genetic make-up of a tree
Genus group
of animals or plants etc
Geology science
of the earth's crust and strata. The study of rock formations
Germination
development of seedling from fertilised seed
Girdling
damage to a tree in which bark has been removed from its entire circumference
Glade
open space in woodland
Grafting
artifical union of the aerial parts of one plant to another
Gradient
amount of slope in road or ground
Green belt
area of land retained around cities which have wide
ranging planning restrictions on development
Green tonne
weight measurement used of fresh felled timber before any such drying has occurred
Greenwood freshly
felled timber
Ground preparation
ploughing, mounding or scarification are methods to prepare the ground for planting
H
Habitat particular
animal or plant lives
Hardwoods broadleaved
(deciduous) trees such as oak, ash & beech, does not relate to hardness
of wood
Harvester purpose
built forest machine that fells, sneds and converts into desired lengths
Heartwood the
inner wood of timber, from the centre. Mainly the most durable part of the timber
Heath
area often dominated by heathers or related shrubs, on acid soils
Hectares (ha) land
unit of measurement used in forestry. Equal to 2.47 acres
Herbaceous
low growing, non woody plants like wildflowers or ferns
Herbicide
chemical used to control undesirable weed/plant species
Honeydew sticky
exudate produced by aphids
Hoppus foot
unit of measurement for broadleaf round wood timber to discover cubic capacity
for selling
Horizon
layer of soil which may differ in colour, texture and colour
Humus decomposed
plant and animal residues in the higher organic soil layer
Hybrid
a plant originating from the fertilization of one species by another
Hydrology science
that analizes the circulation of water in nature below the surface
Hypsometer
instrument used for measuring tree heights
I
Increment
new wood put on by a tree or stand in a year measured by cubic metres per hectare
Indigenous
native - born in place of birth
Inventory
forest survey of an area undertaken to collect data such as as condition,
timber volume & species comp.
Invertebrates animals
without a backbone
K
Knot location of a branch in the timber when it was a tree
L
Leader the
main shoot of a tree
Lenticel small
pore in bark or a leaf for breathing
Light demander tree
species that needs a greater amount of light to establish itself
Lop and Top forest
debris branches/limbs left on site after felling/thinning operations
M
Maiden tree any
tree not grown from a coppice stump
Mensuration method
used in forestry to calculate the volume of timber at roadside or on standing
trees
Microsite small
area which exhibits localized characteristics different from the surrounding
area.
Mineral substance
obtained by mining, natural inorganic substance in earth
Moling cultivation
method like ripping but with an additional device to open a conduit for water
movement
Monoculture woodland/forest
planted with one tree species
Mounding cultivation
method using a excavator to provide singular raised platforms of soil
N
Native not
been known to be introduced from another country - born in place of birth
Natural regeneration trees/shrubs
which arise from naturally-shed seeds with little intervention from humans
Naturalised
an introduced tree or shrub species that now regenerates naturally & is
widespread
Needle cast
defoliation of conifers as a result of disease
Neutral grassland
grassland that is neither strongly acidic nor strongly calcareous
Node swelling
on a shoot to mark the position of a resting bud
Nurse species
quick growing trees planted to protect/or and provide nutrition to the favoured
slow growing end crop
O
Orchard
park like area with fruit trees
Origin
original natural genetic source
Overbark
the volume of wood including the bark. Can be standing volume or felled
volume
Overstorey
trees forming the upper canopy of a forest
P
Parasite
animal or plant living in or on another
Pallet wood
timber piece usually cut from the upper part of a felled tree. Cut between sawlog
& pulp wood pieces
Palmate leaves
that have lobes arranged like fingers of a hand, i.e. horse chestnut
Park
designed area of
amenity grassland with mixed/scattered broadleave/conifer and shrub plantings
Peat
is a soil containg vegetable matter decomposed
by water & partly carbonised
Peaty gley
wet imperfectly draining soil type in which a peat layer less than 45cm
overlies a mineral soil
Pedunculate describing
fruits, which are borne on a stalk (a peduncle)
Pepperpot handheld
container used to apply the correct dosage of granular herbicide
Perennials plants
that live for more than two years, usually flowering each year
Phenotype
genetic make-up of a tree & the environment it is growing
in. Interaction between the two effects
Phloem
tissue in trees that conducts synthesized food
substances to all parts of the tree
Photosynthesis
organic compounds from carbon dioxide & water creating sugars as food
for the growing plant
Pinetum botanical
collection of conifers - not just pines
Pioneer species
the first plants to colonise bare land
Plantation woodland
containing newly planted trees
Podzol soil
type with surface layer of acid humus which underneath has a severely leached
mineral soil
Pole length tree
felled that has been snedded
Policies
old woodland around mansions in Scotland
Pollard
tree that has all of its upper branches removed, usually in residential areas
Pollen
fertilizing (male cells) powder
Pollination
pollen carried from the male part of a flower to the female part of a flower
Porous
permeable to air, water or other fluids
Primary woodland
woodland that has continuous cover of native trees throughout its history
Processor purpose
built forest machine that converts pole length timber by snedding & sectioning
Propagation
regeneration of new plants by means of other than seed
- root cuttings
Provenance place
of origin of tree stock. Plants used in native planting schemes need to be sourced
locally
Pulpwood small
diameter round wood destined to be fragmented to produce, paper pulp & building
board
p-year designates
the planting year of a forest or plantation.('p' should always be written in
lower case)
Q
Quarter
sawing method of sawmilling timber radially to show attractive markings. It
also can reduce shrinkage
R
Rack
route created
amongst standing trees for thinning or felling operations
Rainforest tropical,
evergreen forest with no dry season
Rank vegetation
wild vegetation not being managed, dominated by coarse species of grass
Refugia inaccesible
places in the landscape containing natural regeneration of vegetation, trees/shrubs
Residual herbicide chemical
remaining active in the soil to treat or affect growing weeds
Restocking planting
operation after clearfelling
Respace to
selectively remove trees that are impeding the growth of others
Respiration the
release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from the plant/tree
Ride
designed feature that remained unplanted for
access, fire breaks, extraction or shooting
Ring shake timber
that has splitting along the annual rings
Riparian zones
of or on the river-bank/Water courses
Ripping
cultivation method to break into sub-soil using a tine. i.e. iron pan soils
Risk assessments careful
examination of a planned operation to assess the level of risk & injury
to operatives/public
Rotation the
length of time from planting to felling operations
Round wood logs
& pulp wood pieces
Runoff
gravity flow of water in open channels
S
Salmonids
salmon,
brown trout, sea trout,grayling, powan and char belonging to the Salmonidae
family
Sapwood wood
carrying sap on the outermost annual rings of trees
Saprophyte
vegetable organism living on dead organic matter
Saproxylic invertebrates
which live in and feed on the decaying matter of old trees
Scarification cultivation
method used on clear fell sites for restocking (replanting)
Scree small
loose stones on mountain slopes
Screefing removing
ground vegetation prior to planting, to reduce initial weed competition
Scrub area
of poorly formed trees/shrubs unsuitable for commercial use - mainly wildlife
Secondary woodland woodland
occupying a site that has not been wooded continuously since the last ice age
Seedling young
tree grown from seed in a nursery prior to be transplanted or lined out for
a further year or two
Selective felling
thinning particular trees of commercial value
Semi Nat.Woodland
natural characteristics of mainly native species,may have been originally
planted for wood production
Senescence annual
ageing process in autumn of which parts of plants wither and die
Sessile describing
fruits which are borne on a stalk
Shade bearer a
tree species that will grow in the shade of others
Shake timber
cracks due to stresses of growth or drying of timber
Shrub
a woody plant, much branched and smaller
than trees - less than 4.5m (15ft) tall
Silvaculture
the art and science of growing trees
Skidder tractor
& mounted winch that extracts timber from the forest in pole length for
conversion at roadside
Skyline
overhead
line wire extraction method used on steep slopes or on unfavourable ground conditions
Snedding the
technique of removing branches from a felled tree
Softwoods comes
from coniferous trees such as, pine, fur, spruce and larch
Species
the basic unit of classification
Spoil
excavated material from drains etc
Spot weed application
of chemical treated on competing vegetation around newly planted tr
Spring wood
thin-walled
cells laid down in stems & branches in the early part of growing
Standard
transplanted tree measuring 6ft from the nursery for amenity purposes
Standing sale sale
of standing trees to the buyer based on the standing volume assessment
Standing volume measurement
of trees taken before felling to forecast income from standing sale. m3 over
bark
Stem
living trunk of a tree
Stocking
agreed
stocking density in SWGS contract maybe 2,400 trees/ha or 1600 trees/ha
Stolon
horizontal growing stem
Stool
the stump or base of a tree/shrub, from which new shoots can grow
Sub-soiling
soil cultivation method used on compacted soil sites
Succession
changes in vegetation species over time - leading to climax vegetation.ie.
from plants to trees
Sucker
shoot arising from the roots or at the stem base
Summer wood
thick walled cells
laid out down in the middle of the growing season in stems & branches
Sweep
natural bend in a log or tree
Swipe
usually tractor mounted implement to cut grass verges and dense vegetation
T
Taper the
reduction of girth from the base of a tree or pole length log
Taproot
main central down growing root. These
grow deeper than lateral roots
Tariff system
method of assessing the standing volume before selling as a standing sale
Topography natural
& artificial features of the land, or ground conditions
TPO Tree Preservation Order order
placed by the local planning authority to protect trees in urban areas
Transplant tree
removed from the nursery at a given time and planted in the forest
U
Underbark
volume
of wood excluding the bark
Undercut tree
nursery stock with trimmed roots whilst still in the
ground. To promote healthy fibrous roots
Underplanting trees
planted under existing woodland usually to create tree diversity. Also called
enrichment planting
Understorey tree
or/and shrub below the main canopy
V
Veneer wood
thin slice of wood used to decorate or to face less valuable wood
Veteran tree
imprecise term for a very old tree
Virgin forest
not yet cultivated, explored or exploited. Occurring naturally
W
Watertable
level
within the ground below which the pores of soil & rock are saturated with
water
Wet flush
area
of soil in which nutrients accumulate due to water in flow
Whip
transplanted tree measuring 120-180cm
Whorl
structure such as buds & leaves arising three or more at a time around
a stem
Windblow
trees wholly or partly blown down. Also called windthrow
Windfirm trees/plantations,
because of species, soil or relative exposure are unlikely to windthrow
Wood or Woodland
smaller area than a forest, usually made up of broadleaves. The
words are interchangeable though.
Wood-pasture wooded
land regularly grazed
X
Xylem
living woody tissue
Y
Yield class system of assessing the productivity of a crop of trees based upon height & age
Z
Zebra Uncommon
in British woodlands, sometimes occurs as a passage migrant