A quick look in an appropriate dictionary shows that "stand" is defined, but
the definition will depend on the scientific discipline in question.
Silviculture recognises several different kinds of "stand", each with a
preceding adjective.
PvR

schreef
here's another opinion from a non-expert.

i think of 'stand' as being just a population of similarly-aged tree
species. although a stand may or may not be self-propagating and
contain individuals of various ages, there is an established population
of similarly-aged trees forming the core of 'the stand.' many
conditions which allow for ongoing self-propagation [and sometimes even
the survival of the particular population or 'stand'] change over time
- and are often inhibited by the 'stand' itself. self-propagation is
probably then dependent upon a major disturbance or a chance encounter
w/ appropriate conditions through animal or wind transport of
propagules. i guess we should acknowledge that 'stand' is not a
scientific word and might connote something static. whereas
'population' implies the presence of dynamic processes which affect it
over time, 'stand' is more colloquial and therefore tends to view
something which might visibly change at a slower rate than us as
'static'.

i've been interested lately in plant population dynamics. as a
nurseryman propagating unusual native california plants, i've noticed
how ph is not only a determining factor for what can germinate, but is
often affected - sometimes negatively and sometimes positively for the
species - by the detritus of the same species. this seems to
contradict it's own survival, but i suspect that i'm just unable to
grasp the picture over evolutionary time. in particular, i've been
experimenting w/ propagating ferns and sedges. they seem to thrive in
ph environments which seem to contradict where they are mostly found.
does anyone have info about this?

please excuse me if i've just described something fairly simple in a
very complicated way. i am a complete scientific novice!

pete veilleux