Glossary and Additional Information
Glossary
Board Foot
A piece of wood 1 foot wide, 1 foot long and 1 inch thick (144 cubic inches). Board foot is the most common measure of wood volume.
Clearcut
A regeneration harvest where all trees are removed in one cut. Clearcuts encourage tree species that are intolerant of shade, such as oak and pine. Misouri clearcuts are modified to leave scattered trees for wildlife use.
Commercial Forest Land
Forest land that is capable of economically producing a commercial timber crop.
Cord
A stack of wood 4 feet by 8 feet (128 cubic feet). The cord is the legal unit of measure for firewood in Missouri.
Crown
The branches, twigs and leaves of a tree.
Cruise
A field inventory to determine the size, species and quality of the trees, and to document other characteristics of the forest.
Cull
A tree or log with no timber value. Cull trees may, however, have value as den trees.
Den Tree
A living tree with a cavity large enough to shelter wildlife. Squirrels, raccoons and woodpeckers use den trees. Den trees are also called cavity trees.
Diamater at Breast Height (DBH)
The diameter of the tree at 4 1/2 feet above the ground.
Ecosystem
The interacting system composed of a biological community and it's non-living surroundings.
Even-aged Stand
A stand in which all the trees are essentially the same age.
Forest Management
Planned activity necessary for the successful stewardship of forest resources to meet the landowner's objectives. It includes silvicultural practices, forest protection, and the application of business methods. Forest management encourages ecological diversity, environmental protection, appropriate recreational use, wildlife habitat restoration and improvement, and wood fiber production.
Intermediate Cut
Any harvesting done before the regeneration cut. OIntermediate cuts help improve the existing stand and provide income for the landowner.
Land Conversion
Converting a forested area to another use such as agricultural land or urban area. Conversion is often confused with clearcut. An area that is clearcut remains forested.
Mast
The fruits and nuts of trees which serve as food for wildlife. Soft mast such as mulberries, persimmons and other berries provide food in the summer and fall. Acorns and hickory (hard mast) are more persistent and provide wildlife food through the winter.
Mature Tree
A tree that has reached the desired size or age for its intended use.
Non-commercial Forest Land
Land that is covered by forests but is not capable of economically producing a commercial timber crop because of poor growing conditions.
Overstory
The upper crowns or canopy of the forest.
Regeneration Cut
A harvest to remove the old trees and create conditions favorable for establishing the next generation of trees. Clearcut, seed tree and shelterwood are examples of regeneration cuts.
Rotation
The time it takes to grow a single crop or generation of trees to maturity.
Seed Tree
A regeneration cut where all trees, except for a small number, are removed in one cut. The remaining trees are the seed source for the regeneration of the stand.
Selection Cut
The harvest of trees either individually or in small groups. Selection cuts maintain an uneven-aged stand and encourage shade tolerant species such as sugar maple and dogwood.
Shade Tolerance
The ability of a tree to thrive in the shade of other trees. Sugar maple is tolerant of shade; oak and pine must have full sunlight.
Shelterwood
A regeneration cut where all the trees are removed in a series of three or more cuts. The new stand is established under the shelter of the old stand before it is completely removed.
Silviculture
The art and science of crating and maintaining a forest. It encompasses the technical details of growing trees.
Snag
A dead standing tree. Snags do not take any moisture or sunlight from adjacent trees and are important for many species of wildlife.
Stand
A group of trees of similar age, species and condition that are managed as one unit.
Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)
A thinning made in a forest to remove defective trees and undesirable species and properly space the remaining trees. TSI is the forester's equivalent of "weeding the garden."
Understory
All the plants in a forest that grow beneath the main canopy. The understory may contain seedlings of the overstory trees, small trees, shrubs and forest plants.
Uneven-aged Stand
A stand in which there are at least three ages of trees.
For Additional Information
Conservation Federation of Missouri
728 W. Main
Jefferson City, MO 65101
International Society of Arborculture
P.O. Bos 908
Urbana, IL 61801
Mark Twain National Forest
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
401 Fairgrounds Rd.
Rolla, MO 65401
Missouri Christmas Tree Prodcers Association
Route 2 Box 250
Harrisonville, MO 64701
Missouri Consulting Foresters Association
611 East Capitol
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Missouri Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
P.O. Box 7063
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Missouri Forest Heritage Center
P.O. Box 7063
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Missouri Forest Products Association
611 East Capitol
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Missouri Tree Farm Committee
611 East Capitol
Jefferson City, MO 65101
National Arbor Day Foundation
100 Arbor Avenue
Nebraska City, NE 68410
Society of American Foresters
5400 Grosvenor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
Soil Conservation Service
555 Vandiver Drive
Columbia, MO 65202
University of Missouri
The School of Natural Resources
Extension Forester
130 Agriculture Building
Columbia, Mo 65211
Walnut Council
P.O. Box 41121
Indianapolis, IN 46241
