Tuesday, October 14, 2014

A gnarl on the Oak Ridges Trail


    gnarl /na:l/ n. a contorted knotty protuberance, esp. on a tree. [back-form. f. GNARLED] - Oxford English Reference Dictionary

Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace
How do gnarls happen
And what purpose do they serve
Pass the camera
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


2 comments:

  1. Hi Barry here I found an explanation http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=8028

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    Replies
    1. Just incase the link does not open it says:


      Gnarled Trees

      What causes gnarls on trees? What are these knots composed of? Example: A huge knot around the base of an oak tree.



      Backyard Expert - Cathy Nordstrum
      Some trees just naturally have gnarly areas of bark where a branch meets the trunk, as with the cocoa tree. On trees not usually gnarled, however, the gnarled area is callus tissue the tree grows where it has experienced some kind of environmental stress. Such an area at the base of a tree could have been caused by a lightning strike, loss of bark due to insects or disease, or even an early injury when the tree was but a sapling.

      Trees with gnarls usually can thrive and prosper as long as the tree can repair itself before being damaged further. A sign of age often lending an air of romantic character, gnarly trees capture our imaginations with their rugged good looks. Thanks for sending in this perfectly gnarly question!

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