What is the science of tree identification known as?

The science of tree identification is known as dendrology. This field focuses specifically on the study of trees and woody plants, including their classification, distribution, and ecology. Dendrology is essential for understanding the various species of trees, their associated habitats, and their roles in the environment.

In contrast, botany is a broader discipline encompassing the study of all plant life, including flowering plants, ferns, mosses, and algae, not limited to trees. Silvics, another related term, deals with the life history and general characteristics of forest trees but does not focus solely on identification. Forestry encompasses a range of practices related to forest management and conservation, which may include dendrology but is not exclusively about the identification of trees. Thus, dendrology is the most precise term for the science dedicated specifically to identifying and studying trees.