Which type of wood responds to movement?

The correct answer is flexure wood, which refers to wood that has adapted and responded to bending or movement, typically in response to mechanical stress such as wind or gravity. This type of wood develops in trees that grow in dynamic environments where the trunk must flex to maintain structural integrity. The wood fibers become denser and change arrangement, enhancing the tree's ability to withstand bending forces. Flexure wood allows trees to maintain stability by redistributing structural support along the trunk and branches.

The understanding of how trees produce flexure wood is crucial for tree risk assessment, as it highlights the adaptability of trees to their environments and how they can manage stressors. Recognizing this wood type can aid arborists in making informed decisions about tree health and management strategies.

Other options may refer to different types of wood that do not specifically emphasize the response to movement. For example, reaction wood can develop in response to uneven growth conditions, while compression wood forms as a response to gravitational stress but does not prioritize movement itself. Woundwood, on the other hand, typically develops around injuries to the tree but does not specifically describe the wood's response to movement in the same manner as flexure wood does.