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What is even more amazing is that this mimics nature. Most trees have a root structure that is a rough mirror image of what's above ground!
by maratd 14y ago
What is even more amazing is that this mimics nature. Most trees have a root structure that is a rough mirror image of what's above ground!
- maxerickson 14y agoThe roots are generally much closer to the surface than the canopy is to the ground. Like within a meter versus dozens of meters.
- brianpan 14y agoWhoa, TIL http://www.sustland.umn.edu/implement/planting.html http://www.sustland.umn.edu/implement/planting.html
- greyboy 14y agoHaving lived in a very hurricane-prone area of the southeastern US for most of my life, I can verify that tree roots are not a mirror of the above-ground portion.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- mitjak 14y agoAny pictures?
- greyboy 14y agoNot personal photos, but here are some examples: http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/WE-HURRICANE-GUSTAV-4635.jpg http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/WE-HURRICANE-GUSTAV-46... http://www.doc.state.nc.us/news/scrapbk/David-1.jpg http://www.doc.state.nc.us/news/scrapbk/David-1.jpg http://www.city-data.com/disaster-photos/photos/220.jpg http://www.city-data.com/disaster-photos/photos/220.jpg http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/WE-HURRICANE-GUSTAV-4620.jpg http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/WE-HURRICANE-GUSTAV-46... http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6YoyhPEom8/Tlpzy9dkJII/AAAAAAAABYY/TyTEq0X4H7Y/s1600/Irene%2Bdowned%2Btree.JPG http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6YoyhPEom8/Tlpzy9dkJII/AAAAAAAABY... http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/05/20/46/1378705/5/628x471.jpg http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/05/20/46/1378705/5/628x471.jpg Google something like: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hurricane+trees+down+root&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hurricane+trees+do... Edit: Horrible formatting job, and to say that Pine trees were the worst offenders in our area.
- wtvanhest 14y agoI grew up in south florida and have witnessed a bunch of root walls, but It really depends on the tree. Palm trees for examples have deep root structures and small canopies which is how they survive the strong tropical winds.
- greyboy 14y agoCorrect, there are certain exceptions. I believe the point of this rabbit trail was to correct that notion that root formations are mirrors (or otherwise similar) of the tree trunks/canopies. At least, that's what I was hoping to show.
- wtvanhest 14y agoYeah, absolutely. Just providing some additional info.
- nosse 14y agoPines too often have a big and strong main root. It's for collecting water from deep layers. It can be all-most as thick as the tree itself.
- grassclip 14y agoLink about architecture here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root#Root_architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root#Root_architecture Most interesting thing in my opinion is how roots serve the part of the tree that they're on. If left roots die, left side of tree may die too.
- bcbrown 14y agoThat's true in grasses, but not in trees. In grasses, if the aboveground leaves get shortened/killed, from fire or mowing, the belowground roots die back, then both regrow in a similar manner.