TREE CHARACTERISTICS 



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Tree Characteristics. — Trees are not only the largest plants, 

 but they are extremely complex and highly developed. How- 

 ever, each tree mnst arise from a single cell, in exactly the same 

 manner as any other plant, and is subject to exactly the same 

 laws of plant growth as any other plant. A tree is a woody 



Fig. 85. — Modern forestry methods provide for perpetual crops of lumber and other 

 forest products. Forest beetles are held in check by burning the twigs after each harvest. 

 (U. S. D. A.) 



plant with a single stem or trunk which may be straight with 

 many side branches or the trunk may divide into subdivisions. 

 It has a well-developed root system which gives it firmness and 

 by which it secures water and mineral foods. It has leaves of 

 size, shape and arrangement peculiar to its species. The flowers 

 of some trees are large and showy while those of others are so 

 small and inconspicuous that many people never see them and 



