Tree Segmentation

[David Humphries]

A general nod toward & celebration of David Lonsdales fine paper 'recognition of functional units as an aid to tree management....' in the December 2013 issue (vol 35 issue 4) of the Arboricultural Journal.

 

thought it would be an interesting thread to show/talk about the amazing trees out there that are the sum of the seperated vascular parts.......

 

Feel free to add images or comment on Dr Lonsdales thoughts on managing trees not just as a whole system but as segmented semi-autonomous "functional units"

 

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[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Im glad Dr Lonsdale got this paper out, havent seen it yet but I spoke to him about the importance of the subject at the ATF Cumbria meeting because I fel very strongly about its importance in the mindsets of arbs when dealing with late mature/veteran trees.

 

Understanding and being able to see the segmentations offer a great deal of opportunity for preserving trees that at first glance appear to be in need of a fell.

 

The presentation he gave in Cumbria was spot on for the more hands on arborists, we really ought to get him to do a youtube style version of it.

 

Fundamentally/foundationally important.

[sean]

I havent read it as yet but sounds an interesting read.

 

A few examples of mine.

[lmoyer92]

A general nod toward & celebration of David Lonsdales fine paper 'recognition of functional units as an aid to tree management....' in the December 2013 issue (vol 35 issue 4) of the Arboricultural Journal.

 

thought it would be an interesting thread to show/talk about the amazing trees out there that are the sum of the seperated vascular parts.......

 

Feel free to add images or comment on Dr Lonsdales thoughts on managing trees not just as a whole system but as segmented semi-autonomous "functional units"

 

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It's amazing that these trees are still even capable of standing. I'll certainly have to take a close look into David Lonsdales paper.

[treeseer]

So David, this article is an expansion on what David wrote in p. 81-82 of the 2013 guidance?

 

Amazing, yes, but entirely normal as well. Vascular continuity is what we need to be looking for. The black streak is a dead area between two buttress roots that keep a tree from falling on a house (c. 1734). Note the woundwood at the top seems likely to be broken through--hence your ? about colonisation at the crown break?

In the standard below, it was hard to get the line about stem tissue connection included. That viable-segment concept is not readily accepted by defect-centric assessors, but it's the living tree that matters, not the parts it's shed!

 

83.3 Trunk, flare, and root inspection

83.3.1 Objectives of inspections shall be established.

83.3.2 The method, area, depth, and limitations of inspection shall be specified.

83.3.3 Tools and equipment used for inspection shall be specified.

83.3.4 Inspection should include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:

Conditions in the crown that may reflect root conditions;

Stem tissue connecting the crown and the roots;

Girdling of the buttress roots or stems by roots or other materials, and the tree’s response;

Tree association with beneficial and harmful insects;

Tree association with pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms (e.g. mycorrhizae);

Wounds, and the tree’s response to wounds;

Mechanical damage to detectable roots and response;

Indications of root disease and response; and,

Graft unions in grafted trees.

83.3.5 Mulch, soil, and other materials should be removed as needed to allow for the inspection.

Edited March 25, 2014 by treeseer

[Amelanchier]

Only read the abstract but my initial thoughts are that it sits well with the idea of trees as a cumulative genetic mosaic.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Only read the abstract but my initial thoughts are that it sits well with the idea of trees as a cumulative genetic mosaic.

 

lol, using words to confuse the hairy arses again tony!

[Amelanchier]

Which word did you find challenging Tony?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Which word did you find challenging Tony?

 

lmao, I would never try to take your superior intellect to task old bean:lol:

[woodyguy]

Tony, now you've confused me. Why do you suggest that these trees are mosaics rather than grown from a single seed? Separate vascular structures that all share the same common origin/genetics was what I thought was being discussed.