A living stump is created when a live

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

is cut, burned, eaten, or infected, causing its

cambium A cambium (plural cambia or cambiums), in plants, is a tissue layer that provides partially undifferentiated cells for plant growth. It is found in the area between xylem and phloem. A cambium can also be defined as a cellular plant tissue from w ...

to die above the root system. Living stumps are generally characterized as having a thin outer layer of living cells that surround a hollow central cavity. Living stumps can survive for several years by * using excess carbon reserves, * transfer of nutrients from the roots of neighbouring trees, often aided by

mycorrhiza A mycorrhiza (from Greek μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. mycorrhizae, mycorrhiza or mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plant ...

or * root grafting to the root system of living trees. Root grafting allows for carbon transfer from living trees to living stumps resulting in incremental cambium growth in the stump. Stumps can grow a callus tissue over its cross section which prolongs longevity of the stump by protecting it from infection and insect damage. A living stump which is capable of producing sprouts or cuttings is known as a stool, and is used in the

coppicing Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, pro ...

method of

woodland management Forest management is a branch of forestry concerned with overall administrative, legal, economic, and social aspects, as well as scientific and technical aspects, such as silviculture, protection, and forest regulation. This includes management for ...

.Crist, John B.; Mattson, James A.; Winsauer, Sharon A. 1983. Effect of severing method and stump height on coppice growth. In: Hansen, Edward A., ed. Intensive plantation culture: 12 years research. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-91. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 58-6; retrieved on 2008-05-10 fro
www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/18839

Common Examples

* ''

Pinus strobus ''Pinus strobus'', commonly called the eastern white pine, northern white pine, white pine, Weymouth pine (British), and soft pine is a large pine native to eastern North America. It occurs from Newfoundland, Canada west through the Great Lake ...

'' (white pine) * '' Castanea dentata'' (American chestnut) * '' Tsuga spp.'' (hemlock) * ''

Pseudotsuga menziesii The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...

'' (Douglas-fir) * '' Cedrus spp.'' (cedar)

References

Trees Forest ecology {{tree-stub