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UNCE, Reno, Nev. How Woody Vegetation Grows With special thanks to all our contributors including:
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How woody plants photosynthesize How woody plants grow Shoots and roots Aspect and elevation considerations Additional Resources ◦ this is just the tip of the iceberg!
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Tree growth begins with photosynthesis to produce new wood when the growing season begins.
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Bark Cambium Heartwood Sapwood Latewood Earlywood Seed - reproduction Leaves - photosynthesis (carbon capture) Roots - water & nutrient uptake Bark - protection Cambium/buds - growth Xylem - water transport (up) [dead] Phloem - carbohydrate transport (down)
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Outer Bark Phloem Cambium Sapwood Heartwood
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Meristems: annual growth can also be seen in the branching patterns of many tree species (esp. conifers) 6 th year 5 th year 4 th year 3 rd year 2 nd year 1 st year Terminal leader One year’s growth
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Two main types ◦ Taproot ◦ Fibrous root (pines) Most roots are found in top 18” of soil ◦ Up to 50% in the top 6” Root systems can occupy an area 4-7 times the surface area occupied by the crown AVOID DAMAGE! Healthy trees have a healthy, expanding root system, injured roots may lead to dead branches above NC State Ext.
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Graft unions can form on roots ◦ Can move disease from one tree to another (Armillaria root disease – most important in Rocky Mtn. Region) Armillaria Sign: Mycelial fans under the bark. USDA Forest Service Rate of root grow varies at different times of the year
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Increase size by growing regions or meristems ◦ Terminal buds - height ◦ Cambium – width (diameter) Most forests are regenerated sexually ◦ Seed dispersal is required ◦ Exceptions: aspen (and others) Environmental factors: ◦ amount of light (forest gap) ◦ available moisture (mineral soil) ◦ temperature (dormancy & germination)
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Trees have a natural defense response to wounds and pruning cuts. Trees can compartmentalize the wound thus preventing the spread of decay organisms NC State Ext.
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Lodgepole pine forests usually end with a stand replacing fire every 200-350 years (USFS-RMRS)
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Cool Moist Dense regeneration and high competition for sunlight and nutrients Warm Dry Widely spaced trees lack moisture for growth and germination is hindered Wetter side “Rain Shadow” W S N E
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Elevation and Aspect Influence Forest Cover Types
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CSFS ◦ http://csfs.colostate.edu/ http://csfs.colostate.edu/ CSU Ext. Trees and Woodlands ◦ http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/trees.html http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/trees.html
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Identify all of the trees and shrubs on your property (and nearly adjacent areas should also be looked at, elms). Select your key species and cover type. Consider your objectives for this resource.
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