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Every hobby has its own terminology, and that of growing bonsai is no different. It is important to learn this terminology so that you can discuss you hobby intelligently with fellow enthusiasts. By terminology, I mean not only the English terms for various parts of the plant, but also the Japanese terms. It simply adds to the enjoyment of the hobby to be able to immerse yourself in the culture that gave birth to it.
Parts of the tree
These are pretty simple and self-explanatory. The bole of the tree is that part of the tree trunk that rises from the ground to the point where branches begin to grow off of it. The trunk is the entire body of the tree, distinct from its roots and branches. The crown is the top of the tree.
If you look at a cross-section of a tree trunk, you will see the dark outer covering which is the bark, a thicker inner covering called phloem, or inner bark, the cambium, which is "a cylindrical layer of tissue in the stems and roots of many seed-bearing plants, consisting of cells that divide rapidly to form new layers of tissue," and finally the wood itself.
Trees are either deciduous - shedding their leaves annually, or conifers - which do not shed their needles.
Extending from the branches are leaves, connected to the branch by the petiole, or stalk. The leaf proper is called the blade.
Okay, so much for the parts of the tree. Now let's learn about the types of bonsai tree design, and the terminology for the different sizes.
There is no one "bonsai tree." There are dozens of different kinds of trees that can be cultivated into proper bonsai. The design is the thing - the shape of the tree and its foliage, that distinguish a bonsai tree. There are many different styles for single trees, and different styles for groups of trees. I'll only cover the most popular.
Formal Upright Style - Chokkan
The trunk of the tiny tree grows straight up toward the sky, and the branches form a typical tree silhouette.
Informal Upright Style - Moyogi
The trunk isn't perfect, it's been shaped by wind, shade, competition for light and moisture, it looks like it's put up a fight to survive.
Semicascade Style - Han - Kengai
This style emulates the look of of waterside trees, with the trunk canted over as if it were reaching toward the water...but can't quite make it.
Cascade Style - Kengai
The semicascade is meant to evoke reaching towards water, the cascade style evokes a tree growing on a mountainside...the trunk of the tree is trained of downward below the level of the container.
Literati Style - Bunjinji
Similar to the Informal Upright Style, in this style the long trunk line "flows and twists" upward, with a crown only at the very top of the tree.
Slanting Style - Fukinagashi
Also known as the Windblown style. The trunk leans in one direction, either at a slight or a sharp angle, and all of the branches face in the same way the trunk leans.
Root-Over-Rock Style - Ishitzuki
Made to resemble trees on rocky ledges that have had to send roots down a mighty long ways to find nourishing soil.
Straight Line Style, or Raft Style - Ikada Buki
A tree falls over, but instead of dying sends up branches vertically toward the sun...which become trunks.
Most bonsai consist of a single tree in a container, but there is also a design for simulating forests. This is the Yose Ue style - two or moire trees in one container.
Size Matters
In bonsai, there are terms for the different sizes of the bonsai.
Tiny bonsai is called Mame. These are further divided into two sizes. Keshi-tsubu is up to one inch tall. Shito is from one inch to three inches tall.
Small bonsai is called Shohin. These are subdivided into three sizes. Gafu is from five inches to eight inches tall, Komono are grown up to seven inches, and Myabi are grown from six inches to ten inches tall.
Kifu is the term for medium bonsai, and again it is divided into two classes. Katade-mochi is grown up to 16 inches in height, Chuhin is grown up to 24 inches.
And finally, we have large bonsai, or Daiza. Of these, Omono are grown up to 47 inches, or almost four feet, while Bonju are over three feet tall.
Those numbers are approximate, however, Different schools of bonsai give measurements differently, but at least you've got an approximate idea of the sizes considered.
The bonsai containers also have their specialist names. One design feature that they will practically all have is little feet, to lift t hem off the ground and promote drainage - very important in bonsai.
About the Author: Amber Snow is a amateur bonsai enthusiast and contributor to http://www.bonsaigardener.org. Visit Bonsai Gardener and find out more about how to grow, prune, and care for all species of bonsai trees.
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