Living stump

{{Short description|Living root remains of a cut or otherwise dead tree}}

File:Tree stump - geograph.org.uk - 377320.jpg

A living stump is created when a live tree is cut, burned, eaten, or infected, causing its cambium to die above the root system.

Living stumps are generally characterized as having a thin outer layer of living cells that surround a hollow central cavity. {{Cite journal |last=Davidson |first=Donald W. |date=1963 |title=Living Stumps of Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (Hemlock) in Northern New Jersey |journal=Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=204–207 |doi=10.2307/2482756 |jstor=2482756}}

Living stumps can survive for several years by

• using excess carbon reserves,
• transfer of nutrients from the roots of neighbouring trees, often aided by mycorrhiza{{Cite journal |last=Simard |first=Suzanne W. |last2=Perry |first2=David A. |last3=Jones |first3=Melanie D. |last4=Myrold |first4=David D. |last5=Durall |first5=Daniel M. |last6=Molina |first6=Randy |name-list-style=amp |date=1997 |title=Net transfer of carbon between ectomycorrhizal tree species in the field |journal=Nature |volume=388 |issue=6642 |pages=579–582 |bibcode=1997Natur.388..579S |doi=10.1038/41557 |s2cid=4423207 |doi-access=free}} or
• root grafting to the root system of living trees.

Root grafting allows for carbon transfer from living trees to living stumps resulting in incremental cambium growth in the stump.{{Cite journal |last=Bormann |first=F.H. |last2=Graham Jr. |first2=B.F. |year=1959 |title=The occurrence of natural root grafting in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and its ecological implications |journal=Ecology |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=677–691 |doi=10.2307/1929820 |jstor=1929820}}

Stumps can grow a callus tissue over its cross section which prolongs longevity of the stump by protecting it from infection and insect damage.{{Cite journal |last=Lanner |first=Ronald M. |date=1961 |title=Living Stumps in the Sierra Nevada |journal=Ecology |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=170–173 |doi=10.2307/1933281 |jstor=1933281}} A living stump which is capable of producing sprouts or cuttings is known as a stool, and is used in the coppicing method of woodland management.Crist, John B.; Mattson, James A.; Winsauer, Sharon A. 1983. Effect of severing method and stump height on coppice growth. In: Hansen, Edward A., ed. Intensive plantation culture: 12 years research. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-91. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 58-6; retrieved on 2008-05-10 from [http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/18839 www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/18839].