cactus as a tree?

[Eric Nielsen]

I think you make a good point. "Tree" is not absolutely defined:

"There is no set definition regarding minimum size, though most authors
cite a tree species as being one which regularly reaches 6 m (20 ft) tall."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trees_of_Britain_and_Ireland

"Trees are woody plants at least 15 feet tall at maturity, with a
well-developed crown and a single stem, or trunk, at least several inches
in diameter."

Brockman, C. Frank
"Trees of North America"
Golden Press, New York, 1968

Size--and single vs. multiple stems--seem to be the more important
characteristics for distinguishing a tree from a bush:

"A *shrub* or *bush* is distinguished from a
tree<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree>by its multiple stems and
shorter
height <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Height>, usually under 5–6 m (15–20
ft) tall."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub

Many species may be a tree or a bush at maturity. This could be due to
environment or cultivation or....

In fact, in my neck of the woods, Sassafras (*Sassafras albidum)* can often
occur as a bush and a tree--even within a few feet of each other. I seem to
remember coming upon the phrase "may occur as a tree in southern regions"
(or some such) when reading plant descriptions many years ago. I think it
may be a similar case with mulberries: sometimes they are a bush; sometimes
a tree. A search of "mulberry bush" in Google Images will give some
examples:

http://tiny.cc/n9j0aw

Eric




On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 3:28 PM, Michael McKernan <mckernan51 at gmail.com>wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Michael McKernan <mckernan51 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: cactus as a tree?
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I believe that botanists do not use the term "tree" as a technical term, so
> you're barking up the wrong tree if you want to be botanically technical
> about what "tree" means.
>
> Michael McKernan
> Benson, Arizona (just a few miles from the Saguaros of the Sonoran Desert).
>
>

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