Blister
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a scar on a tree that manifests itself as a weeping sore; it may weep pitch or other colored liquids
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Bole
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a tree’s stem supporting the limbs and crown
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Broom
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an abnormal clustering of branches associated with infections, genetic aberrations, and insect damage
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Butt
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the part of the tree’s bole closest to the ground
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Buttressing
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an adaptive technique normal trees have acquired in response to wind exposure; consists of growing extra fibers in a braided pattern, usually at the base of the bole or nodes
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Butt rot
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decay developing in and sometimes confined to the butt; may originate in wounds or roots; root disease which has left the roots and entered the bole
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Callus
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tissue produced at wound sites in response to injury, which may or may not overgrow an infected area
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Canker
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a definitive lesion on a stem, branch, or root
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Canopy
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the uppermost shade-producing foliage in a stand of trees
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Chlorosis
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an abnormal yellowing of foliage
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Compaction
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the compression of the soil that displaces
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Conk
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the fruiting bodies of many wood-decaying fungi
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Core sampling
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the removal of a small sample of a tree’s woody interior for examination
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Crook
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a sharp offset in the lineal alignment of a tree’s bole
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Crotch
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that part of the tree where the main stem or larger branches fork
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Crown
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the uppermost part of any tree containing the branches and foliage
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Crown closure
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the amount of light that a tree’s crown blocks out from the naked eye
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Decay
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biodegradation or decomposition by fungi and other microorganisms
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Defect
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any feature, fault, or flaw that lowers the strength, integrity, or utility of an affected part of a tree
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Distress cones
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smaller-than-normal, excessive in number cones produced by a tree under stress
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Drip line
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the maximum radial extension of the tree crown projected to the ground
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Failure
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partial or total collapse of a tree or tree part
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Fibrous root system
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root system in which the tree produces no central root
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Fork
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a tree’s bole separated into two new stems; also known as school marm
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Frass
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sawdust-like material on the bole or at the base of a tree produced by insects chewing and excavating the bark or woody tree fibers
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Frost cracks
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splitting of the outer bark and sapwood which occurs on the boles of trees subjected to extreme cold; usually indicate decay inside the bole
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Fruiting body
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conk, mushroom, or other fungal reproductive structure
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Gall
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a swelling on a tree’s limb produced by fungi or bacteria or infested with gall-forming insects
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Hazard tree
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any less than normal tree that is within striking distance of humans or their concerns
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Heart rot
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decay restricted to the heartwood
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Holding strength
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the structural relationship between the roots and soil particles
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Human concerns
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human beings and their property
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Hypha
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a single, microscopic, thread-like filament made up of fungal cells
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Inoculum
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spores or tissue of a pathogen that serve to initiate disease
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Jackstraw
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trees laying on the ground intertwined in all different directions
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Leader
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the last year’s vertical growth on a normal tree
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Lower bole
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the part of a tree’s bole closest to the ground
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Mechanical damage
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non-biological damage to a tree, such as damage from equipment
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Node
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the junction of two woody portions of a tree, e.g., limb to bole or limb to limb
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Pathogen
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a fungus, bacterium, virus, or other infective agent capable of causing disease
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Plant association
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a system of classifying plant communities
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Punk knots
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a protruding and unhealed knot of a tree with decay (bark may not encase the knot)
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Root collar
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the protruding root-like structures along the groundline at the base of a tree formed by some trees
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Root crown
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the region where the root system joins the bole
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Root graft
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the process in which the roots of two or more trees of the same species come in contact and grow together and share a root system
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Sail
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the one-dimensional surface area of a tree’s crown and bole
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Scar
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a partially callused over wound on a tree
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School marm
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a tree’s bole separated into two new stems; also known as Fork
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Seam
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a long, narrow wound that has been callused over by a tree; where callusing growth from both sides of the defect meet.
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Shake
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a defect of trees which are commonly exposed to high winds; the bending from wind causes the growth rings to separate
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Signs
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indicators of the presence of defects in a tree
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Snag
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a standing dead tree
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Spike knot
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the loser of a competition in which two limbs vie for dominance after the break of a tree’s bole; the losing limb becomes a spike knot if it’s broken
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Spike limb
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the loser of a competition in which two limbs vie for dominance after the break of a tree’s bole; the losing limb becomes a spike limb if it’s still alive
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Split
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a long, narrow rupture in a tree’s bole that does not result in a complete break; usually caused from bending
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Stem
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the main trunk or central stalk of a tree
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Striking distance
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the probable horizontal reach of a tree should it fail
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Sweep
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a gentle change in direction of a tree’s bole; a slight bend in the bole
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Taproot system
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root system in which the tree produces one central root that penetrates the soil vertically and spreads out at a depth determined by genetic predisposition and the composition of the soil
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Topping
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removal of some of the upper crown of a tree
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Undermined roots
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roots that are no longer firmly anchored due to soil removal or loss beneath and/or around them
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Widowmaker
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debris or branches suspended in the crown of a tree; may or may not be attached
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Wind break
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trees that receive the first contact with the wind, creating a void on the lee side
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Wind throw
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tree failure triggered by wind
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Xylem
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water conducting woody tissue
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