Development of primary branches and crown profile of Fraxinusexcelsior

Abstract

The relationship between stem and branch growth of common ash (Fraxinusexcelsior L.) was studied from cumulated annual increments of stems and branches determined by stem and branch analysis on 19 unforked trees aged 12–60 years. An allometric relationship between branch length and cumulated stem growth above the branch base was modified to account for an additional tree height effect, and fitted to the pooled branch and stem data. The crown dimensions of trees were derived from the branch growth equation and an average mean branching angle, by solving a crown radius equation. This crown profile prediction method was checked individually on tree samples by comparing observed and simulated crown radii; satisfying results were obtained, except for some trees that were suppressed for a long period.