Tree Half-wreathed in Flame

[Tadrith]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Tadrith/HalfWreathedLeaves.jpg

For those of you who've read the Mabinogion...

Its much "livelier" in person (it really looks as if half of it is a-flame).

Also a shot from below:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Tadrith/TreeUp.jpg

Cheers,
Tad

p.s. if anyone wants the fullsized picture for whatever purpose, just pm me and I can e-mail it to you.

[Tranquility]

Wow, a beautiful sugar maple (right?). Was it struck by lightning? Thanks for posting it!

[ObsessedFae86]

hm, whats the story on this? lightning or a fire of some other type?

[Tadrith]

I don't know what happened to this one, but the one in the Mabinogi is that it's magic (IIRC).

Tad

[Wolfsong]

I"m really bored soooooo...

70274

desided to take out all the wires and poles :p It's just a really fast job so don't look too close :)

[Know Your Rights]

I'm curious if that one side isn't getting enough light or something of a similar sort that would cause the chloroplasts in the leaves on that side to die, causing the oranges, reds and yellows to be present on that side. It is possible, I've seen it on a tree outside my apartment building where, on one side, the leaves start to turn colours mid summer because it's not getting enough water on that one side.

[Tranquility]

I asked if it was struck by lightning because of the following explanation. Sorry, I don't remember the scientific explanation, as my college biology has currently escaped me. Anyway, it has to do with an acid that is found within the leaves that helps them to stay on the twigs and branches. Some oaks that have been struck by lightning will cling their dead leaves onto them well into winter, making a person wonder. Or, maybe one side of the tree is simply being devoured by a parasite. Based on the picture, it looks like the tree is basically split in half. Maybe this occurred due to weight, and the tree's vascular system acts differently, with one side possibly dying. The right side could be sucking up the nutrients and depriving the left side. Just my handful of (probably wrong :) ) theories.

[Tadrith]

Heh... I'm not much of a arborologist (if that's even a word... a person who studies trees!). I'll pick up some leaves tommorow and inspect it if weather permits.

Tad

[skilly-nilly]

Maples often grow like that---I think it's several trees sprouting close together and forming a multiple-trunked 'tree'. Since they're not all one tree really, the different sections can easily 'turn' at slightly different times. They are also affected by prevailing winds, drainage pockets, differences in soil, etc.....

Nice effect.

[Libris]

Nice! I've seen one sort of like that before... but it was due to acid rain :( It wasn't a perfect half alive-dead divide like this one though.

[River]

That tree has wilt. I had an oak tree that that happened to.

[Tadrith]

Can wilt happen only on one side of the tree?

I think the "newly" installed parking lot has a lot to do with it. Adding an impervious service over the roots of an already large tree would probably cause absorption inssues for that side.

Tad

[River]

Mmhmm. The old oak that I used to have looked pretty much like that one. I think it might have to do with the trunk segments. See how there are like two trunks stuck together? My tree was like that too.

[Tadrith]

There are almost 3 or 4 "trunks" merged together. Its kind of weird.

[River]

Yeah. Pretty though. If it is wilt and they cut off the dead part it will grow back just fine.

[Tadrith]

I highly doubt this tree will ever be touched by anyone unless it starts to pose a hazard to society (core rots out, branches break off and fall on roads, etc).

Cool to know though, Thanks :)

[Crysiira]

This tree is pretty and all, but if you want trees in flame, oh do I have a picture to share! The vine on this tree turned red before the rest of the leaves got a chance to turn, and it creates such a gorgeous effect. Don't mean to undermine your thread or anything, but thought I'd share some pretty tree pics! :hahugh:

[Tadrith]

Way cool!