Lives of Conifers

by Powell, Graham

• ISBN13: 9781550418699
• ISBN10: 1550418696
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-02-28
• Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd

Summary

"What are the lives of trees, of conifers, like?. . . How do seedlings establish and develop into saplings? How do some seedlings stay alive for decades, marking time in the deep shade of the forest? How do the distinctive forms of saplings of the different species arise?. . . When, how, and where do cones come from? What is the sex life of a conifer? Where does pollen come from? What does pollen do?" - From the IntroductionA comparative account of the coniferous trees indigenous to Northeastern North AmericaExtensively illustrated with full-colour photographs, diagrams, and drawings by the author, Graham R. Powell's Lives of Conifersexamines the complex and fascinating life cycles of the 12 coniferous trees that grow naturally in northeastern North America on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.Tracing their development from seeds and seedlings, to saplings, through the pole stage to maturity, old age, and death, the book is designed to pro-vide a comparison of each species at each stage of life, thus aiding in the recognition and identification of species at all stages of their existence. It includes descriptions of developmental processes and how they differ among the species.The species covered in the book are: the balsam fir, eastern hemlock, tamarack larch, eastern white pine, jack pine, pitch pine, red pine, black spruce, red spruce, white spruce, eastern juniper, and eastern thuja.The book is based almost entirely on what is visible to the careful observer in the forest, and includes only the parts of trees that can be seen above ground. Lives of Coniferswill appeal to forest scientists, forestry students, foresters, forest technologists, botanists, horticulturists, arborists, naturalists, and general readers interested in knowing more about their natural surroundings.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Seeds Introduction Seed Character Sizes and Composition of Seeds Life Histories of Seeds 3. Young Seedlings Introduction Germination and the Germinants Post-germination, First-season Development Fir, Hemlock, Larch, and Spruce Balsam fir Eastern hemlock Tamarack larch Spruces Pines Eastern Juniper and Eastern Thuja Second-season Development Fir, Hemlock, Larch, and Spruce Balsam fir Eastern hemlock Tamarack larch Spruces Pines Eastern Juniper and Eastern Thuja 4. Older Seedlings Introduction Light-demanding Species Shade-tolerant Species 5. Saplings Introduction Leaders Branching Patterns Crown Structure Shoot Features 6. The Reproductive Stage - Cone and Seed Production Introduction Onset and Build-up of Cone Production Upon-shoot Positioning of Cones Frequency of Cone Production Abundance of Cone Production Seed Production 7. The Reproductive Stage - Development of Cones and the Reproductive Process Introduction Pre-winter Pollen-cone Development Pre-winter Seed-cone Development Post-winter Development to the Pollen-shedding Stage Post-winter Development to the Receptive Seed-cone Stage Development from Cone Closure to Full Seed-cone Size Cone and Seed Maturation and Seed Release 8. Branch Development in Older Crowns Introduction Branch Development Uninoded Pines General Principles of Branch Development, Demise, and Death Multinoded Pines Tamarack Larch Spruces Balsam Fir Eastern Hemlock Eastern Thuja Eastern Juniper Abscission of Shoot systems or Shoots Natural Pruning 9. Growth to Old Age, and Death Introduction Pole Stage to Full Stature Crown and Stem Form, and bark General Effects of Harsh Conditions Senescence and Death AppendixGlossaryLiterature Cited