Preferred term
trees
Definition
- A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to 6 m; some authors set a minimum of 10 cm trunk diameter (30 cm girth). Woody plants that do not meet these definitions by having multiple stems and/or small size are called shrubs. Compared with most other plants, trees are long-lived, some reaching several thousand years old and growing to up to 115 m (379 ft) high. Trees are an important component of the natural landscape because of their prevention of erosion and the provision of a weather-sheltered ecosystem in and under their foliage. They also play an important role in producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as well as moderating ground temperatures. They are also elements in landscaping and agriculture, both for their aesthetic appeal and their orchard crops. Wood from trees is a building material, as well as a primary energy source in many developing countries. Trees also play a role in many of the world's mythologies.
Broader concept
Creator
- herbert.schentz@umweltbundesamt.at
In other languages
Arabic
- شجرة
Bulgarian
- Дърво
Chinese
- 树
Croatian
- drvo
Czech
- strom
Danish
- træ
Dutch
- boom
Estonian
- puu
Finnish
- puu
- Puu
French
- arbre
German
- Baum
Greek
- δέντρο
Hungarian
- fa
Italian
- albero
Japanese
- 木
Latvian
- koks
Lithuanian
- medis
Norwegian
- tre (vegetasjon)
- Tre
Polish
- drzewo
Portuguese
- árvores
- árvore
Romanian
- copac
Slovak
- strom
Slovenian
- drevo
Spanish
- arboles
- árbol
Swedish
- träd
- Träd
URI
http://vocabs.lter-europe.net/EnvThes/20694