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RI Tree to Hold Fall Tree Stewards Course at AAA Building Warwick

Published on
July 16, 2024

John Campanini

Technical Director, RI Tree Council

Rhode Island Tree Council (RITree) recently announced its fall Tree Stewards course’s dates, which the organization will host at the AAA Building/Annex Room, 65 Centerville Road, Warwick, Rhode Island. The course’s lecture sessions are September 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The course’s planting session is TBD and will be on a Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 am, with the date and location to be determined. The course’s fee is $50.00 for RITree members and $75 for non-members. Seating for the course is limited.

“The Tree Stewards course provides an in-depth look at the basics of tree care and growth and covers various tree-related topics,” says John Campanini, RITree’s technical director. “It’s always been our most popular course, so seating fills up quickly. It’s only one of RI Tree’s many activities to educate the public about trees and their benefits.”

RITree holds the Tree Stewards Course in the fall and the spring at locations throughout Rhode Island. The course reviews the basics of tree care and tree growth, including the following topics:

  • Tree Biology
  • Tree Identification
  • Tree Health
  • Planting & Pruning
  • Urban Forestry
  • Soil

The course also reviews insect and disease diagnosis, common invasive, and plant stressors. The course provides ISA CEUs and MG for landscape professionals if requested.

For more information about the courses or to register, call Robin Enos at RITree at 401-764-5885 or visit its website: www.ritree.org. People also can register by emailing the organization at ritree@ritree.org.

What are a Tree’s Major Plant Functions?

Like all plants, trees carry out essential life functions that allow them to grow, reproduce, and thrive. The five most critical functions are photosynthesis, transport, gas exchange, support and anchorage, and reproduction. Below, we describe each function in brief.

  • Photosynthesis: This function is among a tree’s most crucial. Photosynthesis captures sunlight and converts it into energy through its leaves, which are specially adapted for photosynthesis and contain chlorophyll, a pigment that traps sunlight. Through complex chemical reactions, trees use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air to produce glucose (sugar), their primary food source. They also release oxygen as a byproduct, essential for life on Earth.
  • Transport: Trees have a sophisticated vascular system that transports water and nutrients throughout the plant. These items are vital to a plant’s survival. Its xylem, a woody tissue, transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots to the leaves. Phloem, another vascular tissue, transports sugars and other organic materials produced in the leaves to all tree parts, including the roots, for growth and maintenance.
  • Gas exchange: Trees exchange gases with the environment through tiny pores called stomata on the underside of their leaves. During photosynthesis, stomata open to allow carbon dioxide to enter for food production and release oxygen. Stomata may open or close at night depending on the tree species and environmental conditions, letting the tree take in oxygen for respiration and release water vapor through transpiration.
  • Support and anchorage: A tree’s root system provides anchorage, keeping the tree upright and stable in the ground. Roots also absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The tree’s trunk and branches support its leaves and flowers.
  • Reproduction: Trees reproduce sexually through seeds or asexually through vegetative propagation. Flowers are the reproductive organs of trees. When a flower is pollinated, it produces seeds that can germinate and grow into new trees. Some trees can also reproduce asexually by sending out suckers or runners that can grow into new trees.

Trees also perform some significant minor functions critical to their growth. These include shading and cooling, wind reduction, habitat and food source, noise reduction, and water cycle. Air filtration is another minor but significant tree function. While it’s hard to quantify the amount of air a tree “filters,” studies show that trees in urban areas can significantly improve air quality. Planting trees around homes and cities is a natural and effective way to reduce air pollution.