When is a Tree Really Dead?

[Lumberjack]

So when is a standing tree considered dead?

You can sever the cambium but the tree will live off of stored energy for a while.

A nasty oak could have a patch of green leaves at the top, making it still alive.

A human is dead (i think) when they have no pulse and arent breathing, a tree has neither a pulse or respiration to measure (practically).

What do yall think?

 

[tophopper]

id say its dead when there aint a single leaf or bud on the tree, until then its declining

 

[Stumped_4_Life]

i think a tree is dead When ? LOL i dont really Know when a tree is dead Maybe when it has no more Green leaves and the limbs brake Easy Or all the bark has fallin off?

 

[dayman]

A human is dead (i think) when they have no pulse and arent breathing, a tree has neither a pulse or respiration to measure (practically).

Humans need to have a core body temp of ~98.6, no breathing, no pulse. In hypothermia cases they warm the body and try to revive.

 

[Husky288XP]

I believe a tree would be dead when all of the following occur: lack of growth above and below ground, loss of foliage, and loss of conduction of water, minerals, and carbohydrates.

 

[darkstar]

when its in the tub

 

[okietreedude1]

Thats a really good question man....


Several years ago I cut down a silver maple in early spring just before they would have leafed out. The trunk went up about 10 feet and then had a whirl of 3 limbs and another lateral straight up. I took the chunk home, cut some off the bottom and used the top for a deco garden peice. About 3 weeks after getting it situated just right, the thing sprouted suckers.

Now, this tree was cut off and hauled off site. Since it sprouted, does this mean its still alive?!?!?!?

 

[JonnyHart]

Seen that happen with box elder and willow dumped on damp ground many times. Never seen it happen on maple.

 

[tnttreeman]

I've seen that on willow and black walnut.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Now, this tree was cut off and hauled off site. Since it sprouted, does this mean its still alive?!?!?!?

It's called a nurse log, as stated willow does it readilly, it will even put out roots.

JonnyHart - Seen that happen with box elder and willow dumped on damp ground many times. Never seen it happen on maple.

If you've seen it on boxelder, you've seen it on maple Acer negundo

This form of vegitative reproduction is more previlant on lowland/riparian species then your uppland hardwoods.

I've heard that several conifers do it too.

As for soft maple, I've seen adventicous rooting int the high canopy, so I could see it doing a nurse log if there was sufficient water.

 

[JonnyHart]

Brainfart. OK, never seen it on silver maple.

 

[treeseer]

Since it sprouted, does this mean its still alive?!?!?!?

NOt really--the tissues that sprout are certainly alive, but the entire tree may have been dead.

A human that is declared dead may be cloned from some tissue, but that does not make him/her alive.

That said, I tell tree owners that as long as there's green cambium there's hope. But i agree that if there's no conduction the tree is dead.

 

[Elmore]

In my opinion a tree is deemed dead when meristematic activity ceases. Many would consider it dead long before that, when the top is no longer living. http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/SCI_ED/grade10/plant_tissues/meristematic.htm

 

[tnttreeman]

I think a tree is really dead when I've shot it through my c'n'd and ground the stump