Tree Morphology

Abstract

Tree morphology at its most basic level refers to the geometric shape of different portions of the tree, most commonly the bole (main stem) or the tree crown (foliated portion). The geometric solid describing the crowns of various tree species, for example, can range from a cone or paraboloid to an ellipsoid or inverted neiloid. The morphology of tree root systems, while of much interest to foresters and ecologists, has less commonly been characterized with respect to its geometric occupancy due to the difficulty of direct observation and its more irregular pattern.