Dendrology, from the Ancient Greek δένδρον meaning "tree" and λόγος meaning "study", is the science of trees, and more generally the study of woody plants. Woody plants may be trees, shrubs, and lianas.

There is no sharp boundary between plant taxonomy and dendrology. However, woody plants do not only belong to many different plant families, but these families may be made up of both woody and non-woody members. Some families include only a few woody species. This severely limits the usefulness of a strictly dendrological approach. Dendrology tends to focus on economically useful woody plants, their identification and horticultural or silvicultural properties.

Noted dendrologists

• Mike Baillie, Queen's University of Belfast
• Michael Dirr
• Alan Mitchell
• Maciej Giertych
• Humphry Marshall

See also

• Dendrochronology

External links

• Iowa State - Dendrology
• Forest Biology and Dendrology Educational Sites at Virginia Tech