Module 6.) Tree inspection and Assessment

Question 1

Branch arising from a stem or parent branch and having no connection to apical meristems

Answer 1

Adventitious Branch

Question 2

Roots arising from a roots or stems and having no connection to apical meristems

Answer 2

Adventitious Root

Question 3

Leans characterized by the top of the tree bending over more than the lower trunk, creating a curve

Answer 3

Bow

Question 4

Swelling on branches, trunks, or root flares; often caused by new tissue formed as a response to movement and that reinforces the wood structure at the weak area.

Answer 4

Bulge

Question 5

Localized diseased area on stems, roots, and branches. Often shrunken and discolored

Answer 5

Canker

Question 6

Forked branches nearly the same size in diameter, arising from a common junction and lacking normal branch union.

Answer 6

Codominant Stem

Question 7

Fracture caused by compressive stress.

Answer 7

Compression crack

Question 8

Tree lean characterized by a leaning lower trunk amd a top that is more upright as result of self-correction; sweep.

Answer 8

Corrected Lean

Question 9

Separation in wood fibers; narrow breaks or fissures in stems or branches. if severe, may result in tree or branch failure

Answer 9

Crack

Question 10

An imperfection, weakness, or lack of something necessary. in trees, defects are injures, growth patterns, decay or other conditions that reduce the tree’s structural strength.

Answer 10

Defect

Question 11

Frost crack; vertical split in the wood of a tree, often near the base of the bole, caused by internal stresses and low temperatures.

Answer 11

Freeze-Thaw Crack

Question 12

Vertical split in the wood of the tree, often near the base of the bole, caused by internal stresses and low temperatures.

Answer 12

Frost Cracks

Question 13

Root that encircles all or part of the tree trunk or the tree’s other roots, constricting the vascular tissue and inhibiting secondary growth and the movement of water and photosynthates.

Answer 13

Girdling Root

Question 14

Bark that becomes embedded in the crotch (union) between branch and truck or between codominant stems. causes a weak structure.

Answer 14

Included Bark

Question 15

Predominant angle of the trunk from vertical.

Answer 15

Lean

Question 16

The ratio of crown length to total tree height.

Answer 16

Live Crown Ratio

Question 17

Seeping or exudation from a tree cavity or other opening.

Answer 17

Oozing

Question 18

Branch that extends outside the normal crown area

Answer 18

Overextended Branch

Question 19

Longitudinal bulge of response wood growth.

Answer 19

Rib

Question 20

line formed where two edges of bark meet at a crack or wound.

Answer 20

Seam

Question 21

A crack at the neutral plane between tension and compression stresses

Answer 21

Shear Plane Crack

Question 22

Sudden, unanticipated failure of a tree branch with little or no discernible defects; often associated with long, horizontal branches and warm temperatures.

Answer 22

Sudden Branch Drop

Question 23

Corrected tree lean characterized by a leaning lower trunk and a top that has grown back towards vertical.

Answer 23

Sweep

Question 24

Change in diameter over the length of trunks, branches, and roots.

Answer 24

Taper

Question 25

Time period for which an assessment is defined.

Answer 25

Time Frame

Question 26

The structural form and shape of a tree.

Answer 26

Tree architecture

Question 27

Method of assessing the structural integrity of trees using external symptoms of mechanical stress ( such as bulges, reactive growth, etc) and defects (cracks, cavities, etc.).

Answer 27

Visual Assessment

Question 28

T or F - A possible likelihood of failure is when failure may be expected in extreme weather conditions, but is unlikely during normal weather conditions when the specified time frame.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

T or F - Even if there is no cracking or oozing, ridges will probably affect the likelihood of failure.

Answer 29

False

Question 30

T or F - Cankers occur when stems or branches are torsionally stressed

Answer 30

False

Question 31

When assessing decay, it is important to consider the extent of decay, its structural implication’s, and the amount of ______ ________

Answer 31

Response Growth.

Question 32

Flat areas at the trunk flare may indicate missing or girdling _____, or obstructions such as rocks or underground infrastructure.

Answer 32

Roots

Question 33

Lager-than-normal root flare or fused roots at the base of a tree may indicate the presence of _____ _____

Answer 33

Basal Decay or Root Decay

Question 34

All other conditions being equal, a taller tree that has the same trunk diameter as a shorter tree has _____ stress in the lower trunk, due to the longer ____ _____

Answer 34

Higher; Lever Arm

Question 35

A low ____ ______ ______ can be a condition of concern, especially if the tree originally developed in forest condition and was recently exposed to higher wind conditions.

Answer 35

Live Crown Ratio

Question 36

When the size of a branch is less than one-half the diameter of the parent stem
A.) Included bark is likely to make the junction weak.
B.) The branch union is likely to be strong, if it contains no defects.
C.) The parent stem should be subordinated to encourage branch growth.
D.) The branch may already be in initial stages of failure.

Answer 36

B.
In general, Branch attachments are strongest when the parent branch is at least twice the diameter of the subordinate branch and there is adequate wood to securely hold the branch in place

Question 37

Adventitious Branches tend to be weaker than other branches because.
A.) They have a U-shaped juncture.
B.) they typically contain included bark.
C.) they have minimal holding wood.
D.) All of the above.

Answer 37

C.
Strong branch attachments form when branch and trunk wood develop together over time. Adventitious branches are weaker because less wood has formed to hold the branch in place compared with a normal branch of the same diameter.

Question 38

When investigating a cavity, it is important to determine.
A.) the size and extent of the cavity
B.) the location of the cavity within the cross section
c.) whether response growth is outpacing decay progression.
D.) All of the above.

Answer 38

D.
Not all cavities are a reson to condemn a tree. it is important to note that the extent of response growth, the size and location of the cavity, and the vigor of the tree. if the new wood development outpaces decay progression, the tree may become stronger over time.

Question 39

Longitudinal branch cracks most commonly occur on horizontal branches when branches.
A.) are codominant and nearly equal in size
B.) Contain included bark within the branch union.
C.) are overloaded by wind, rain, freezing rain, or snow
D.) Have a sharp angle of attachment at branch union

Answer 39

C.
Longitudinal branch cracks of shear place cracks occurs when load is increased on the end of the lever arm. loading may be the result of wind, rain, freezing rain, or snow.

Question 40

Transverse cracks indicate that.
A.) excessive tension or compression has occurred
B.) The fibers in the wood have pulled apart or buckled.
C.) Branch failure may be probable or imminent
D.) All of the above.

Answer 40

D.
Many cracks can be attributed to excessive tension or compression, causing the fibers in the tree or tree part to collapse. Transverse cracks typically create significant structural weaknesses, and are not usually seen during risk assessments, because they often precede imminent failure.

Question 41

Which of the following is a visual indicator of compensation of root/soil defects?
A.) Fungal fruiting structures
B.) Stem girdling roots
C.) wide root flare.
D.) excessive soil moisture

Answer 41

C.
Larger-than-normal flare at the base of the tree may indicate that the root decay is present. This condition is a form of response growth that may indicate the presence of defects, but it also adds strength to resist bending and aid in stability

Question 42

When observing and analyzing defects in a tree to categorize likelihood of failure, it is important to consider that.
A.) Multiple conditions could be present.
B.) target occupancy rates can vary during daytime and nighttime hours
C.) Consequences of failure might not be the same in all seasons
D.) All of the above.

Answer 42

A.
When determining the likelihood of failure, consider only conditions that affect failure. Conditions that affect likelihood of impact and consequences of failure are reflected separately in the assessment.