Arborist Cert Flashcards
Angiosperm
Any non conifer or palm tree
Gymnosperm
Conifer trees
Meristem
Specialized growth initiation areas where new cells arise by cell division
Differentiation
Cells change their structure to assume a variety of different functions after cell division
Primary Growth
Growth from the roots and shoot tips resulting in increase of length and height
Secondary Growth
Growth that increases the thickness of stems, branches and roots
Apical Meristems
Small areas at the tips of roots and shoots
Buds
Where apical meristems are found
Cambium
Thin sheath of dividing cells located just under the bark. Produces cells that will be the vascular system for the tree
Xylem
Inner tissue created by the cambium.
Phloem
Outer layer of tissue created by the cambium.
Cork Cambium
Second lateral meristem that produces the outer tissues (periderm) and ultimately the bark. Palms lack this secondary growth.
Cellulose
Structural component of the primary cell wall. Plays a role in providing the architecture of different types of cells.
Lignin
A more rigid component of plant cells formed in the cell walls of the wood. Forms a matrix in which microfibrils (long chains of cellulose) are embedded; this forms a reinforcing structure similar to rebar in concrete. Allows trees to grow tall
4 Primary Functions of the Xylem
- Conduction of water and dissolved minerals (collectively known as sap
- Mechanical support for the tree
- Storage of carbohydrate (starch) reserves
- Defense against the spread of dysfunction, disease and decay
Tracheids
Elongated, close-ended, dead cells with pointed ends and thickened walls. They conduct water and provide mechanical support.
Parenchyma cells
Living cells interspersed among the other cells. Responsible for storing carbohydrates and defending against decay
Eudicotyledon (Eudicot)
Trees made up of vessel elements, fibers, and parenchyma cells. In some species tracheids may also be present.
Vessels
The primary conducting elements in angiosperms. Better at conducting water than tracheids.
Ring Porous
Trees that form wide vessels early in the growing season and narrow vessels later in the growing season. Includes elm, oak, and ash among others.
Diffuse Porous
Trees that produce uniform vessels throughout the growing season. Includes maple, planetree, linden among others.
Growth Rings
Visible in xylem. Result of cambium’s seasonal xylem production. Appear as rings because relative size and density of vascular tissues change throughout the growing season. Cells become smaller in diameter as the growing season progresses.
Earlywood
Cells produced early in the growing season
Latewood
Cells produced later in the growing season
Sapwood
Xylem that conducts water. Contains many parenchyma cells.
Heartwood
Nonconducting xylem that contains no living cells and is sometimes darker in color than the sapwood. Old layers of sapwood. Contributes to the mechanical support of the tree, can resist invasion of microorganisms, and is important in storing carbon. No longer plays a physiological role for the tree.
Rays
Made up of parenchyma cells that grow radially, like spokes on a bike wheel, and extend across the growth increments of xylem into the phloem. Ray cells transport carbohydrates and other compounds into and out of sapwood, store carbs such as starch, and assist in restricting decay in growth tissues
Lenticels
Small openings in the bark that permit gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Apical/ Terminal Buds
Buds located at the end of a shoot. Most active buds.
Axillary Buds
Buds that occur along the stem. Often dormant.
Apical Dominance
Where the terminal buds chemically inhibit the growth and development of laterals on the same shoot.
Adventitious Buds
Produced along stems or roots where primary meristems aren’t normally found. Development may be stimulated by the loss of apical buds and the plant hormones they produce.
Epicormic Shoots
When latent buds elongate and produce shoots (water sprouts)
Node
A slightly enlarged portion of the twig where leaves and buds develop
Internode
The area between nodes- important as a diagnostic tool. Leaf scars and terminal bud scars are useful in measuring annual growth in many species.
Branch Collar
The annual production of layers of tissue at the junction of the branch to the stem seen as a shoulder or bulge around the branch base
Branch Union
Junction of stem and branch. Specialized wood is formed that is typically much denser and exhibits twisted and whirled wood grain
Branch Bark Ridge
External sign of specialized wood of the branch union
Included Bark
Bark that is embedded in the branch union. Weakens the union
Chlorophyll
Primary leaf pigment that absorbs sunlight
Chloroplasts
Where energy from sunlight is collected
Photosynthesis
Reaction where sunlight is converted to chemical energy in the form of carbs
Transpiration
The loss of water through the foliage in the form of water vapor which helps cool the leaf. Draws up water from the roots through the xylem.
Cuticle
Outer surface of leaf covered by waxy layer. Minimizes desiccation (drying out) of the leaf.
Stomata
Small openings mostly on the underside of the leaf surface controlling the loss of water vapor and the exchange of gases
Guard cells
Regulate the opening and closing of the stomata in response to environmental stimuli such as light, temperature and humidity
Deciduous Trees
Trees that shed their leaves every year
Evergreens
Trees that hold their leaves for more than a year
Abcission Zone
Area at base of leaf stalk that enables leaf drop and protects the region of the stem from which the leaf has fallen against desiccation and pathogen entry
Anthocyanins
Red and purple pigments in leaves. Protect from ultraviolet radiation while sugars and amino acids are stored for the spring.
Carotenoids
Yellows, oranges and red pigments in leaves. Protect from ultraviolet radiation while sugars and amino acids are stored for the spring.
Absorbing Roots
Small, fibrous, primary tissues growing at the ends of and along the main woody roots. They have epidermal cells that may be modified into root hairs aiding in the uptake of water and minerals
Lateral Roots
Usually near the soil surface
Sinker roots
Vertically downward growing roots from the lateral roots that provide anchorage and access to available water deeper in the soil
Taproot
Roots of young trees usually replaced by the expansion of roots around it or diverted by the downward growth by unfavorable growing conditions from compacted soil. Few mature trees have taproots
Root Crown/ Trunk Flare
Area where roots join the main stem
Mycorrizhae
Roots that have symbiotic relationship with fungi. Present in nearly all soils and beneficial to plants.
Photosynthates
Sugar products of photosynthesis. The building blocks of many compounds of the plant. Stored by the tree in form of starch for later use.
Respiration
Process where carbs are converted into energy independent of light.
Cell Turgor
Pressure of water inside the guard cells
Osmosis
Movement of water through a membrane from a region of high water potential/ concentration to a region of lower potential.
Source
Refers to leaves in terms of phloem transport
Sink
Where carbs flow from areas of high concentration to lower concentration in phloem tranport. Sinks are plant parts that use more energy than they produce. Almost all plant parts are sinks at some point.
Axial Transport
Longitudinal transport in xylem and phloem
Radial Transport
Movement of water and nutrients within the tree between cells of different ages (primarily through rays)
Plant Growth Regulators/ Hormones
Chemical messengers that act in small quantities to regulate plant growth and development.
Auxins
Plant growth regulators linked to several developmental processes. Primarily found in shoot tips but also important in root development.
Cytokinins
Plant growth regulator primary stored in roots but help shoot initiation and growth.
Tropism
The directional growth of a plant in response to an external stimulus such as light and gravity.
Geotropism
Plants response to gravitational pull
Phototropism
Light affecting the direction of plant growth
Decurrent Tree
Tree where lateral shoots outgrow the original terminal shoot resulting in a round head
Excurrent Tree
Where apical shoots outgrow lateral shoots resulting in upright trees with strong central leaders
Compartmentalization
The process by which trees can limit the spread of dysfunction, disease and decay.
CODIT and its 4 walls
Compartmentalization of decay in trees.
Wall 1- resists longitudinal spread of decay organism by plugging xylem vessels or blocking pits in tracheids
Wall 2- resists inward spread by developing dense latewood cells and depositing special chemicals in said cells
Wall 3- inhibits lateral spread around the stem by activating the ray cells
3 walls = reaction zone
Wall 4- New wood tissue prevents outward spread (barrier zone)
Wall 1 is weakest, Wall 4 is strongest
Shakes
Lengthwise separation of wood along the grain, usually between or through annual growth rings
Temperate
Non tropical climate
Buttress Roots
Roots at the trunk base that help support the tree and distribute mechanical stress
Aerial Roots
Roots that come out of stems or branches above ground. They support the tree, help with gas exchange and propagation.
Propagation
Creation of new plants
Monocotyledon/ Monocots
Palm trees. More in common with grasses than eudicots. They don’t have a cambium or growth rings on xylem. Instead they have vascular bundles of phloem and xylem in strong, fibrous tissues, embedded in a matrix of parenchyma cells and interspersed within the stem. Stem is capable of storing starch in the parenchyma cells. They cannot repair wounds but more resistant to decay.
Fronds
New leaves
Inflorescences
Clusters of flowers on palms
Root Initiation Zone
At the base of the stem
Root Mat
Densely packed network of roots close to the stem in the upper foot of soil or above ground
Taxonomy and its 2 purposes
The science of identifying, naming, and classifying organisms.
1. To help us communicate accurately about plants
2. To represent our understanding of how they are related to each other
Phylum (classification)
Seperates most vascular plants with non vascular tissue plants
Vascular Plants
Plants with xylem and phloem
Order of classification starting with Kingdom
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species (genus + specific epithet)
Kings play chess on flat gray stumps
Nomenclature
Naming of plant
Hybrid
The result of crossbreeding two different species or less commonly genera
Subspecies
A naturally occurring, closely related group within a species that has distinctly different characteristics. Abbreviated “ssp.”
Variety
Subdivision of species that has a trait different from the others and breeds true to that trait. Abbreviated “v.”
Form
Similar to subspecies but differences are less obvious and more sporadic. These plants have different levels of cold hardiness or unique flower colors that appear randomly. Abbreviated “f.”
Cultivar
Cultivated varieties that require human intervention (propogation) to maintain a trait. Abbreviated “cv.” The first letter in each cultivar name is capitalized
Morphology
The size, shape, and external appearance of plant parts
Pinnately Compound Leaf
Has small leaflets arranged along the central leaf vein- similar to a feather
Palmately Compound Leaf
Has small leaflets joined at a common center point on the leaf- like fingers on a hand
Bipinnately Compound Leaf
Has a second order of smaller leaflets comprising each larger leaflet
Leaf Margin
How the outer edge of the leaf is shaped
Leaf base and Leaf apex
Base is bottom of the leaf closest to base of midrib, apex is the top
Opposite Leaves
Two leaves emerging from the same node. Most fall into 4 genera (MAD Horse)- maple, ash, dogwood, horsechestnut
Alternate Leaves
Single leaf at each node (most common)
Whorled Leaves
3 or more leaves from the same node
4 “S” words to identify spruce
Short, sharp, single, and square
Types of leaf margins
Check 12/11/24 screenshot
Physical properties of soil
How minerals are arranged, physical features of minerals, and how water moves through the soil
Chemical properties of soil
Acidity, salinity, nutrient status
Biological properties of soil
Fungi, bacteria, and other life forms
Parent material (soil)
Underlying bedrock
Soil horizons
Visible layers of soil oriented parallel to the surface caused by rainfall, leaching, heating and cooling, chemical reactions, biological activities, and accumulation of different elements and materials
Soil profile
The nature, arrangement, depth and number of soil horizons
The 5 major horizons of the soil profile
O, A , E, B, C horizons
Organic layer (soil)- O horizon
A layer at the top of the soil profile that comprises organic material in various stages of composition. It provides a source of nutrients for plants and buffers the soil from climatic extremes.
A horizon (soil)
Layer below the O horizon. Comprised of less than 20% organic matter and is biologically active. Contains most of the fine roots. Primarily inorganic matter but rich in organic matter which gives it its dark color.
E horizon (soil)
When it exists, it is below the O and A horizons. (O,A,E,B,C) It lacks organic matter and is a lighter color.
B horizon (soil)
Is below the A horizon and E if it exists.(O,A,E,B,C) It is an accumulation of materials that have leached with the surface mixed with the soil particles from lower parent material.
C horizon (soil)
Deepest layer just before the bedrock. Composed of partially weathered parent material. It is continually forming and changing physically, chemically and biologically.
Organic matter
Consists of dead plant and animal material in various stages of decomposition. A majority of organic matter comes from fine root decomposition. It shrinks and swells which helps form pore space. Some organic matter binds to larger groups of soil particles which form better soil structure. Soil organisms improve aeration, soil structure and fertility.
Loam
Refers to a soil texture that is a balance of sand, silt, and clay (less clay than sand and silt). It is favorable for plant growth
Soil Aggregates
Clumped together soil particles
Soil structure
The shape, size, strength and arrangement of soil aggragates.
Macropores
Filled with air because they are too large to hold water against gravity
Micropores
Hold water for plants to use
Bulk density
The weight of dried soil per unit of soil volume. Used to determine compaction levels and whether pore space exists.
Buffering capacity (soil)
Resistance to changes in pH, especially soils high in clay or organic matter
Ions
Charged particles (minerals dissolved in water)
Anion
Negatively charged ion
Anion
Negatively charged ion
Cations
Positively charged ions
Cations
Positively charged ions
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
A measure of a soil’s ability to attract, retain, and exchange positively charged ions. Used as a gauge of soil fertility.
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
A measure of a soil’s ability to attract, retain, and exchange positively charged ions. Used as a gauge of soil fertility.
Saline Soils
Soils with excessive levels of ions in the form of soluble salts
Saline Soils
Soils with excessive levels of ions in the form of soluble salts
Sodic soils
The cation sodium occupies an unusually high percentage of the CEC .
Sodic soils
The cation sodium occupies an unusually high percentage of the CEC .
Rhizosphere
An area of intense biological activity in the soil near actively elongating roots where many organisms florish.
Rhizosphere
An area of intense biological activity in the soil near actively elongating roots where many organisms florish.
Root exudates
Sugar and other materials released through roots into the soil
Mycorrhizae
Specialized root structures created when mycorrhizal fungi infect roots of a suitable host plant. Most plants have mycorrhizae.
Mycorrhizae
Specialized root structures created when mycorrhizal fungi infect roots of a suitable host plant. Most plants have mycorrhizae.
Mineralization
The process of which organically bound plant nutrients are converted into inorganic plant available forms.
Mineralization
The process of which organically bound plant nutrients are converted into inorganic plant available forms.
Field capacity (soil)
Level reached when gravitational water drains from soil
Capillary water
Water that is retained in micropores of soil once field capacity is reached
Structural soils
Soil mixes that can be compacted to meet engineering requirements and still allow for root growth and development
Structural soils
Soil mixes that can be compacted to meet engineering requirements and still allow for root growth and development
Turgid
Fully hydrated
Evapotranspiration (ET)
The rate of which water is lost through transpiration by plants and evaporation from soil
Evapotranspiration (ET)
The rate of which water is lost through transpiration by plants and evaporation from soil
Xeriscaping
Landscaping with drought tolerant plants
Xeriscaping
Landscaping with drought tolerant plants
Hydrozone
Planting in groups of similar water requirements
Hydrozone
Planting in groups of similar water requirements and irrigating on the same schedule
Tensiometer
Device used to measure soil wetness or dryness
Tensiometer
Device used to measure soil wetness or dryness
Internal cycling
When the annual demand of a plants nutrients are met through reusing elements from the soil taken up from previous years
Primary macronutrients
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
Primary micronutrients
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
Secondary Macronutrients
Sulfur, magnesium, and calcium
Secondary Macronutrients
Sulfur, magnesium, and calcium
Nitrogen fixation
Conversion to a plant usable form of atmospheric nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation
Conversion to a plant usable form of atmospheric nitrogen
Chlorosis
Yellowing or whitening of leaves
Chlorosis
Yellowing or whitening of leaves
Volatilization
Loss in gaseous form into the atmosphere
Nutrient limitation
Affects the rate of growth
Nutrient Deficiency
Affects tree health
Prescription fertilization
Matching the trees annual demand for nutrients relative to the supply of nutrients
Soil analysis
Provides estimates of the quantities of plant available nutrients, organic matter content, pH, and Cation exchange capacity
Foliar Analysis
Analysis of nutrient content in the leaves, reflecting the trees ability to acquire and use nutrients from the soil under current conditions
Complete fertilizer
A fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
Fertilizer burn
When ions from fertilizer draw out water from the roots
Water insoluble nitrogen (WIN)
Percentage of WIN on fertilizer label determines if it is slow release
Water insoluble nitrogen (WIN)
Percentage of WIN on fertilizer label determines if it is slow release
Fastigiate
Tree growing in upright form
Hardiness
A plant’s ability to survive winter growing conditions and often refers specifically to cold temperatures
Hardiness
A plant’s ability to survive winter growing conditions and often refers specifically to cold temperatures
Bare root trees
Usually small, easy to transplant, and less costly than other stock types. Larger roots are intact, finer roots lost when harvested. There is no soil attached- light weight. Vital roots be kept moist after planting.
Hardened off
A process that acclimates balled and burlapped trees to water stress when dug with foliage. Slowly acclimates to outdoors
Guying
Staking a tree
Espalier
Combination of pruning and training branches that are oriented in one plane
Topiary
Pruning to specific shape
Infloresence
Arrangement of flowers on a plant
CODIT
Compartmentalization of decay/damage in trees
Antigibberellins
Inhibit the synthesis of gibberellin, the naturally occurring cell-elongation hormone
Cable stop/swage
Termination devices that clamp to the end of cables
Insect frass
Frass isa by-product of insect breeding, the leftover substrate, which is composed of spent feedstock, insect feces, and cuticles.
Blight
Characterized by sudden death of flowers, leaves, or young stems that typically remain on the plant
Blotch
Irregularly shaped dead area on leaf, stem, or fruit
Canker
Localized, usually dead area on stems, roots, or branches; often sunken and discolored
Chlorosis
Whitish or yellowish lead discoloration caused by lack of chlorophyll
Gall
Abnormal, enlarged plant structure that develops from proliferation of the cells in leaves, stems, or roots colonized by certain parasitic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mites or insects
Gummosis
Exudation of sap or gum, often in response to disease or insect damage
Necrosis
Localized or general death of cells or parts of a living organism
Scorch
Browning or shriveling of foliage, especially along leaf margins and/or between veins
Spot
Discrete, localized, and usually small dead area of a leaf or needle, stem, flower, or fruit
Stippling
Speckled or dotted areas on leaves where tissue has been damaged such as by piercing-sucking insects
Witches broom
Plant structure resulting from shortening of internodes and proliferation of buds to form a dense brushlike mass of shoots
Allelopathy
The chemical inhibition of growth and development of one plant by another.
Skeletonized leaf
Result of insects that eat leaf parts around the veins
Phytotoxic
Damage to plants caused by chemicals
Honeydew
Sugar excreted from phloegm caused by sucking insects
Sooty mold
A black mold that can come from honeydew substrate. It can cover leaves and impact plant health
Vectors (insects)
Insects that carry disease causing organisms from one tree to another
Eriophyid mites
May cause galls to form on foliage and twigs because of feeding or egg laying
Nematodes
Small, unsegmented, microscopic, wormlike creatures.
Plant disease triangle
The tree must be susceptible to the pathogen, the pathogen must be present, and the environment must be suitable to the disease.
Cellulose and Lignin
Provide defense since many herbivores and even some pathogens cannot digest these compounds
Alellochemicals
Tannins, other phenols, and other compounds that have toxic or deterring effects on certain herbivores or pathogens
Photosynthate
Plant sugars
ARP
Appropriate response process (for phc)
IPM
Integrated pest management
Phenology
The study of reoccurring biological events (pest emergence, flowering, fruiting, leaf drop, etc.) which are often related to seasonal patterns of weather, temp and day length.
Degree-day model
A quantitative method for accounting for the effect of seasonal warming on pest development.
Monocultures
Extensive plantings of the same species
Cultural control
Refers to landscape management practices that either promote plant health or deter pest development
Biological control
The suppression of pest populations by three main types of natural enemies: predators, parasites, and pathogens
Systemic pesticides
Absorbed and moved through plant
Secondary pest outbreak
Occur when primary pest and natural enemies are both suppressed and a new pest takes advantage of the lack of competition
Biorational control products
Insecticidal soap, horticultural oils, botanicals, insect growth regulators, microbial based products, and microbial agents
Insecticidal soaps
Highly refined soaps that disrupt the cell membranes of soft bodied insects and mites
Horticultural oils
Have insecticidal properties because they suffocate certain insects and disrupt their membranes
Botanical pesticides
Plant extracts used for insecticidal purposes
Insect growth regulators
Synthetic compounds that act like hormones, disrupting the molting or growth processes
Microbial pesticides
Contain insect pathogens or lethal microbial byproducts that are derived from extracts of bacterial pathogens of insects
Microbial pesticides
Contain insect pathogens or lethal microbial byproducts that are derived from extracts of bacterial pathogens of insects
Critical root zone (CRZ)
The area around the tree where the minimum amount of roots that are biologically essential to the structural stability and health of the tree are located.
Sales comparison approach
Compares a buyers willingness to pay with a seller’s willingness to sell
The income approach
Quantifies the present value of future benefits expected to be generated by the subject of appraisal
The cost approach
Determines the amount of resources necessary to reproduce, replace, or repair the subject of appraisal.
Trunk formula technique
Extrapolates the cost to reproduce nursery stock per unit of trunk cross sectional area
Quick links
Caribeaners tightened by wrench
Kernmantle
Ropes with a cover and an inner core
Double braided ropes
Braided rope inside a braided rope
12 strand rope
Braided rope that has no core
16 strand rope
Large braided cover strands for strength and abrasion resistance and a small diameter core to keep the rope rounded
24 strand rope
Double braided and tighter than a 16 strand
Cycles to failure
For ropes one cycle means one lift, or drop for a rigging line
Design factor
Reflects the relationship between the tensile strength of a rope and the working load limit. A higher number means a stronger rope.
