public function getProperty($key, $default = false)
    {
        if(!$this->hasProperty($key))
        {
            return $default;
        }
        if(array_key_exists((string) $key, $this->properties))
        {
            $value = $this->properties[$key];

        }
        else
        {
            $value = $this->properties['tree_' . $key];
        }

        $valueLow = strtolower($value);
        if($valueLow == 'true' || $valueLow == 'false')
        {
            return ($valueLow == 'true');
        }
        return $value;
    }