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Term Definition
Canopy tree A species of tree in which adult individuals occupy the more or less continuous canopy layer of a forest which, in lowland neotropical rainforests, is less than 20 m in height. Stratification of rain forest. Cartoon by M. Sashital.
Canopy tree layer A hypothetical layer in tropical rain forest consisting of trees that form a ± continuous layer commonly at a maximum height of about 25–35 meters in the Neotropics. Stratification of rain forest. Cartoon by M. Sashital.
Emergent tree A species of tree in which adult individuals exceed the more or less continuous canopy layer of a forest. An emergent tree of Couratari multiflora. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Emergent tree layer A hypotherical layer in tropical forests made up of species of the tallest trees with crown emerging above the canopy tree layer. Stratification of rain forest. Cartoon by M. Sashital.
Tree An erect, usually single-stemmed, woody plant 5 centimeters or more dbh (diameter at breast height); some trees may have multiple trunks but at least some of the trunks are 5 centimeters or more in diameter. Compare with treelet. Stratification of rain forest. Cartoon by M. Sashital.
Tree climbing Because 68% of the plants in lowland rainforests (Mori et al., 2002) are trees or plants (e.g., lianas and epiphytes) that grow along tree trunks or in the crowns of trees) it is essential to be able to climb trees. Botanists have used the following methods to physically climb trees: peconha, French tree climbing spikes called griffes, single pronged spikes usually used to climb wooden telephone poles, the Swiss tree bicyle, and rope climbing. For more information about plant collecting see Tropical Plant Collecting: From the Filed to the Internet. This book can be purchased at: http://tecceditora.com/ or Amazon.com. Collecting specimens from a tree. Drawing by M. Rothman.
Understory tree A tree growing in a hypothetical stratum in the forest consisting of the crowns of trees found below the canopy and usually less than 20–25 meters tall at maturity. Stratification of rain forest. Cartoon by M. Sashital.
Understory tree A species of tree in which adult individuals do not reach the more-or-less continuous canopy tree layer of a forest. Apex of stem of Gustavia monocaulis held by Scott Mori. Photo by J. A. Kallunki.