Canopy
/KAN-oh-pee/🦋 Ecology● Basic
Also known as: tree canopy, crown cover
In forestry, the canopy is the uppermost continuous layer of tree crowns in a forest, forming the primary interface between vegetation and atmosphere. In arboriculture, canopy refers to the overall spread and density of an individual tree's branch and leaf system. Canopy density affects light penetration to the forest floor, microclimate, rainfall interception, and wildlife habitat. Urban canopy cover is an important metric for city planning.
Etymology
Latin canopeum (covering over a bed), from Greek konopeion (mosquito net)
Example
“The dense canopy of a mature beech forest allows very little light to reach the ground, limiting understory growth.”