The term heartwood derives solely from its position and not from any vital importance to the tree. This is evidenced by the fact that a tree can thrive with its heart completely decayed. Some species begin to form heartwood very early in life, so having only a thin layer of live sapwood, while in others the change comes slowly. Thin sapwood is characteristic of such species as chestnut, black locust, mulberry, osage-orange, and sassafras, while in maple, ash, hickory, hackberry, beech, and pine, thick sapwood is the rule. Others never form heartwood. COUNT 5
QSN1 If a tree starts forming heartwood right away, will its sapwood layer be thin or thick? ANS1 thin QSN2 What property of heartwood that has nothing to do with how important it is to trees got it its name? ANS2 position QSN3 Does a beech tree usually have thin or thick sapwood? ANS3 thick QSN4 Does a sassafras tree typically have a thin or thick sapwood layer? ANS4 Thin QSN5 Would a thin or a thick sapwood layer be found in a pine tree? ANS5 thick