Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Adventitious bud foliage on a mature Virginia pine.


This is a rare example of a pine that has foliage from an adventitious bud that has persisted as the tree has continued to grow. I am not sure the cause of this phenomena. I was unable to propagate this. I thought at the time that is would stay in a bushy form if propagated but now I believe it could eventually revert back to normal growth. This plant lived behind Weddington School but the first time volunteers encountered this tree they whacked it down. Viruses can cause adventitious buds to sprout. I also see adventitious buds on pines that have been girdled by animals or equipment. I really don't know what happened here.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Potential State Record Sumac




I first noticed this tree two years ago and even considered cutting it down to improve my shooting lane. (I have killed four bucks within 50 yards of this tree.) There were never any leaves on it and I just assumed it was a large alder like the other trees in the area. Then one day I was sitting in a nearby tree and a flock of bluebirds stopped to feed. There were 5 male bluebirds in this tree at one time with others nearby. That is when I finally realized this was one whopper of a sumac (Rhus copallina). Anyway, the county forest ranger in Rowan County came by one day and I got him to measure it. The current record is actually 6 feet taller, but this one has such a large circumference that I think it could become the record. (That is County Forest Ranger David Poole on the right.)