BRANCH DEVELOPMENT IN PINUS RADIATA : MODEL OUTLINE AND DATA COLLECTION

The location of branches attached to the tree stem and the dimensions of the initial part of these branches which become encased within the stem are major determinants of timber quality. The branching characteristics of Pinus radiata D. Don were summarised and this information was used to define the structure of a branch model. The data necessary to define the mathematical form of these functions were obtained by destructive sampling of selected trees.