PRODUCTIVITY OF RED PINE, .1. FOLIAGE DISTRIBUTION IN TREE CROWN AND STAND CANOPY

The vertical distribution of foliage in the crown of 50 red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) trees from ten plantations was similar despite large differences in size and age of trees, stand density and site quality. For most trees, foliage was distributed symmetrically and normally along crown length with mean near the crown midpoint and standard deviation approximately equal to one-fifth of crown length. Errors incurred in assuming mean equal to half and standard deviation equal to one-fifth of crown length were reasonable and acceptable, usually not exceeding 14% of total foliage in any quartile of crown length. Distribution of foliage in the stand canopy, estimated from the sample, was similar to individual crowns. Observations by others were compared to red pine: distribution of foliage in red pine canopies was similar to two other conifers as well as two grasses. Three hardwood and a forage crop canopy resembled each other, but compared to red pine the normal distributions of their foliage were skewed toward the top of the canopy. © 1969.