CLA Plant Materials & Horticulture Flashcards
6 cards from real CLA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CLA Plant Materials & Horticulture flashcards as text
What is the function of mycorrhizal fungi in relation to landscape plants?
Answer: They form symbiotic root associations that improve water and nutrient uptake
Mycorrhizal fungi colonize plant roots and extend their hyphal network to dramatically increase the effective absorptive surface area for water and nutrients.
A CLA specifies Taxus × media 'Hicksii' for a hedge. What primary site condition must be avoided?
Answer: Poorly drained or waterlogged soil
Yews (Taxus) are highly susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils and will decline rapidly in standing water.
Which pruning method removes an entire branch back to the parent stem or trunk to reduce size and maintain natural form?
Answer: Thinning cut
A thinning cut removes a branch entirely at its point of origin, maintaining natural branch structure and encouraging airflow.
What is 'chlorosis' in landscape plants, and what is a common cause in alkaline soils?
Answer: Yellowing of leaves due to iron or manganese deficiency
Chlorosis is interveinal yellowing caused by iron or manganese deficiency, which commonly occurs in alkaline soils where these micronutrients become unavailable.
A planting plan specifies 'CONT 15 GAL' next to a shrub symbol. What does this indicate?
Answer: The shrub is grown in a 15-gallon container
CONT 15 GAL means the plant is grown and supplied in a 15-gallon nursery container, indicating a well-established root system.
Which invasive plant, commonly known as kudzu, is notorious for smothering native vegetation across the southeastern US?
Answer: Pueraria montana var. lobata
Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is an aggressive vine from Asia that can grow up to a foot per day in warm months and covers millions of acres in the southeastern US.