Glossary

Species names Genus names After people After places Botanical terms General terms

General terms

Ancient tree. A tree in the third or final stage of its life (this stage can go on for decades or centuries); old relative to others of the same species; interesting biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of its great age.
Ancient Woodland Ancient woods are defined as those where there has been continuous woodland cover since at least 1600 AD.
Veteran tree. Veteran trees are survivors that have developed some of the features found on ancient trees. However, veteran trees are usually only in their second or mature stage of life.
BasswoodThe common name of basswood is derived from bastwood, in reference to the tough inner bark (bast) which has been used to make rope and mats.
Bletting a process of softening fleshy fruits beyond ripening - with medlars, for example, leaving them in sawdust for several weeks, essentially to rot
Biological classification (taxonomy): Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Boltwood
CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Cherry - flowering cherry names beni - pink, hana - flower, kiku - chrysanthemum-flowered, nioi - scented, shidare - weeping, yae - double-flowered, Sakura or zakura - cherry
Coppice Trees which are cut back to ground levels at regular intervals (3-25 years).
Endemic - native, restricted to a certain place
Fire-climax plant - readily catches fire but re-grows from the roots after the fire; the seeds are also adapted to germinate after slight scorching by fire.
Genus - a category below family and above species
Hybrid musk rose - a class of repeat-flowering shrub roses with arching habit, exceptional disease resistance, and clusters of fragrant blooms. Originally bred in the early 20th century by the Reverend Joseph Pemberton in England.
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature. Categories: EX, EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, CD, LC, DD, NE. EXtinct, Extinct in the Wild , Critically Endangered, ENdangered, VUlnerable, Near Threatened, Conservation Dependent, Least Concern, Data Deficient, Not Evaluated

Least concern. IUCN category - Very Low risk; does not qualify for a higher risk category and not likely to be threatened in the near future.
Mast years - a year when trees produce bumper crops, particularly oak and beech.
Mixed Woodland Woodland made up of broadleaved and coniferous trees
Native species Species that have arrived in Britain without human assistance
Niwaki - 'garden trees' in Japanese, the technique of niwaki is more about what to do with a tree than the tree itself
Notable trees usually mature trees which may stand out in the local environment because they are large in comparison with other trees around them.
Relict -a thing which has survived from an earlier period, or in a primitive form (eg relict woodland)
Riparian - relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams
Roundel - a group of trees in the form of a ring, or large clump
Species - category below genus, designated by the name of the genus it belongs to, followed by a Latinised name (which agrees grammatically with the genus).
Shelter belt - protective border formed of tall trees and shrubs (over 4.5m) planted in three or four staggered rows
Silvicuture The growing and care of trees in woodland
Stand Trees of one type or species, grouped together within a woodland.
Taxons, taxa - pl. taxa. A group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit
Veteran tree - in the second and mature stage of its life. Although they're not as old as ancient trees, they're still incredibly important
Windbreaks - consist of a line of defence such as a hedge, fence, single or double row of trees
Witches' broom - abnormal, dense clusters of twigs and branches on trees caused by a disruption in growth, often due to fungal, viral, or bacterial infections, insect activity, genetic mutations, or environmental factors.