Certified Forester Practice Exam

Which crown class refers to trees that are entirely under the crown cover and do not receive direct sunlight?

1. Dominant

2. Codominant

3. Intermediate

4. Suppressed

The correct answer is: Suppressed

The term that refers to trees that are entirely under the crown cover and do not receive direct sunlight is "suppressed." Suppressed trees are typically located beneath the canopy of taller trees and as such, they experience very limited photosynthetic opportunities due to the lack of direct sunlight. This positioning affects their growth and health, often leading to slower growth rates and reduced vigor compared to trees in more favorable light conditions. In contrast, dominant trees have the tallest crowns and receive full sunlight, while codominant trees share the canopy at a similar height but are slightly shorter than the dominant ones, receiving ample light as well. Intermediate trees are somewhat shorter than codominant trees and still receive some light, albeit less than what codominant and dominant trees would.