Botanical Barricades

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I have a clonal colony of trees that are around 150 meters in height and live in a wetland habitat. These trees cover the majority of the wetland area, covering thousands of square miles.



What reasons would the trees have for growing a "wall" of aerial roots (like cypress knees) only at the edge of their range? This would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area except for breaks in the barricade allowing fast moving water (large rivers) through or breaks caused by wildlife.










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    6














    I have a clonal colony of trees that are around 150 meters in height and live in a wetland habitat. These trees cover the majority of the wetland area, covering thousands of square miles.



    What reasons would the trees have for growing a "wall" of aerial roots (like cypress knees) only at the edge of their range? This would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area except for breaks in the barricade allowing fast moving water (large rivers) through or breaks caused by wildlife.










    share|improve this question


























      6












      6








      6


      1





      I have a clonal colony of trees that are around 150 meters in height and live in a wetland habitat. These trees cover the majority of the wetland area, covering thousands of square miles.



      What reasons would the trees have for growing a "wall" of aerial roots (like cypress knees) only at the edge of their range? This would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area except for breaks in the barricade allowing fast moving water (large rivers) through or breaks caused by wildlife.










      share|improve this question















      I have a clonal colony of trees that are around 150 meters in height and live in a wetland habitat. These trees cover the majority of the wetland area, covering thousands of square miles.



      What reasons would the trees have for growing a "wall" of aerial roots (like cypress knees) only at the edge of their range? This would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area except for breaks in the barricade allowing fast moving water (large rivers) through or breaks caused by wildlife.







      creature-design flora






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      edited Dec 23 '18 at 4:27









      Renan

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      43.6k1198222










      asked Dec 23 '18 at 3:56









      Thalassan

      577110




      577110




















          3 Answers
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          this would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area




          this is your reason.



          Wind carries, among other things, nutrients and dust. While nutrients are vital for trees, wetlands can sometime be peculiar environments from the nutritional standpoint, and a plant adapted to grow 150 meter in such environment is subject to a really delicate equilibrium which can be easily disrupted. For a real life example, think of the carnivore plants being able to grow on Nitrogen poor lands, and how they die if provided with fertilizer. Also sand can be a threat in the long term.



          Therefore the outer "wall" takes care that the winds are slowed down or even halted at the border of the wetland, depositing there their load.






          share|improve this answer




























            5














            It is one tree. The curtain of aerial roots are how it increases its area.



            Fig trees (genus Ficus) drop aerial roots down from the ends of their branches once they get big enough. In some species these roots can form an impenetrable curtain that extends up to the branches. Depicted - the Curtain Fig in Queensland.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_Fig_Tree
            enter image description here



            Your tree has aspects of the strangler fig with its curtains of roots and aspects of the banyan, a different fig. Banyan trees are very long lived and grow to become immense. Over time the curtains of roots condense into trunklike "prop roots" in the tree interior.



            giant banyan
            https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-BANYAN-TREE-in-Tropical-Florida-POSTCARD-Unused-Vintage-Free-Ship-/182798796629



            If you can make it through the perimeter curtain of thin young roots expanding the domain of this tree, you might think you are in the shade of a forest. Actually, you are under the tree. Every trunk you see is part of the same tree. The Great Banyan is 4.6 acres - 2 city blocks. It does not take much imagination to scale that up.






            share|improve this answer






























              3














              Your trees have been selected by evolution such that their aerial roots anchor themselves in the ground, but would rot and decay if the ground has a high content of water. Borrowing from L.Dutch's intuition about the wind, the actual problem is not bringing the nutrients, but rather avoiding excessive evaporation due to the continuous wind.



              The process of root rotting is quite simple, and already present in our everyday plants. In fact, in many plants, "excess water makes it very difficult for the roots to get the air that they need, causing them to decay. To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry[..]" [1]



              In this way, not only your trees get their shield at the edge of the wetland, where the soil becomes drier, but also continue to expand their dominion as the wetland increases in area. Trees whose trunk is not however deep in water will dry out, whither, and die, so that the wall will shrink if the wetland retreats.






              share|improve this answer




















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                3 Answers
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                active

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                3 Answers
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                active

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                9















                this would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area




                this is your reason.



                Wind carries, among other things, nutrients and dust. While nutrients are vital for trees, wetlands can sometime be peculiar environments from the nutritional standpoint, and a plant adapted to grow 150 meter in such environment is subject to a really delicate equilibrium which can be easily disrupted. For a real life example, think of the carnivore plants being able to grow on Nitrogen poor lands, and how they die if provided with fertilizer. Also sand can be a threat in the long term.



                Therefore the outer "wall" takes care that the winds are slowed down or even halted at the border of the wetland, depositing there their load.






                share|improve this answer

























                  9















                  this would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area




                  this is your reason.



                  Wind carries, among other things, nutrients and dust. While nutrients are vital for trees, wetlands can sometime be peculiar environments from the nutritional standpoint, and a plant adapted to grow 150 meter in such environment is subject to a really delicate equilibrium which can be easily disrupted. For a real life example, think of the carnivore plants being able to grow on Nitrogen poor lands, and how they die if provided with fertilizer. Also sand can be a threat in the long term.



                  Therefore the outer "wall" takes care that the winds are slowed down or even halted at the border of the wetland, depositing there their load.






                  share|improve this answer























                    9












                    9








                    9







                    this would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area




                    this is your reason.



                    Wind carries, among other things, nutrients and dust. While nutrients are vital for trees, wetlands can sometime be peculiar environments from the nutritional standpoint, and a plant adapted to grow 150 meter in such environment is subject to a really delicate equilibrium which can be easily disrupted. For a real life example, think of the carnivore plants being able to grow on Nitrogen poor lands, and how they die if provided with fertilizer. Also sand can be a threat in the long term.



                    Therefore the outer "wall" takes care that the winds are slowed down or even halted at the border of the wetland, depositing there their load.






                    share|improve this answer













                    this would effectively block the wetland area off from the rest of the area




                    this is your reason.



                    Wind carries, among other things, nutrients and dust. While nutrients are vital for trees, wetlands can sometime be peculiar environments from the nutritional standpoint, and a plant adapted to grow 150 meter in such environment is subject to a really delicate equilibrium which can be easily disrupted. For a real life example, think of the carnivore plants being able to grow on Nitrogen poor lands, and how they die if provided with fertilizer. Also sand can be a threat in the long term.



                    Therefore the outer "wall" takes care that the winds are slowed down or even halted at the border of the wetland, depositing there their load.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 23 '18 at 4:09









                    L.Dutch

                    77.4k25184375




                    77.4k25184375





















                        5














                        It is one tree. The curtain of aerial roots are how it increases its area.



                        Fig trees (genus Ficus) drop aerial roots down from the ends of their branches once they get big enough. In some species these roots can form an impenetrable curtain that extends up to the branches. Depicted - the Curtain Fig in Queensland.
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_Fig_Tree
                        enter image description here



                        Your tree has aspects of the strangler fig with its curtains of roots and aspects of the banyan, a different fig. Banyan trees are very long lived and grow to become immense. Over time the curtains of roots condense into trunklike "prop roots" in the tree interior.



                        giant banyan
                        https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-BANYAN-TREE-in-Tropical-Florida-POSTCARD-Unused-Vintage-Free-Ship-/182798796629



                        If you can make it through the perimeter curtain of thin young roots expanding the domain of this tree, you might think you are in the shade of a forest. Actually, you are under the tree. Every trunk you see is part of the same tree. The Great Banyan is 4.6 acres - 2 city blocks. It does not take much imagination to scale that up.






                        share|improve this answer



























                          5














                          It is one tree. The curtain of aerial roots are how it increases its area.



                          Fig trees (genus Ficus) drop aerial roots down from the ends of their branches once they get big enough. In some species these roots can form an impenetrable curtain that extends up to the branches. Depicted - the Curtain Fig in Queensland.
                          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_Fig_Tree
                          enter image description here



                          Your tree has aspects of the strangler fig with its curtains of roots and aspects of the banyan, a different fig. Banyan trees are very long lived and grow to become immense. Over time the curtains of roots condense into trunklike "prop roots" in the tree interior.



                          giant banyan
                          https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-BANYAN-TREE-in-Tropical-Florida-POSTCARD-Unused-Vintage-Free-Ship-/182798796629



                          If you can make it through the perimeter curtain of thin young roots expanding the domain of this tree, you might think you are in the shade of a forest. Actually, you are under the tree. Every trunk you see is part of the same tree. The Great Banyan is 4.6 acres - 2 city blocks. It does not take much imagination to scale that up.






                          share|improve this answer

























                            5












                            5








                            5






                            It is one tree. The curtain of aerial roots are how it increases its area.



                            Fig trees (genus Ficus) drop aerial roots down from the ends of their branches once they get big enough. In some species these roots can form an impenetrable curtain that extends up to the branches. Depicted - the Curtain Fig in Queensland.
                            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_Fig_Tree
                            enter image description here



                            Your tree has aspects of the strangler fig with its curtains of roots and aspects of the banyan, a different fig. Banyan trees are very long lived and grow to become immense. Over time the curtains of roots condense into trunklike "prop roots" in the tree interior.



                            giant banyan
                            https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-BANYAN-TREE-in-Tropical-Florida-POSTCARD-Unused-Vintage-Free-Ship-/182798796629



                            If you can make it through the perimeter curtain of thin young roots expanding the domain of this tree, you might think you are in the shade of a forest. Actually, you are under the tree. Every trunk you see is part of the same tree. The Great Banyan is 4.6 acres - 2 city blocks. It does not take much imagination to scale that up.






                            share|improve this answer














                            It is one tree. The curtain of aerial roots are how it increases its area.



                            Fig trees (genus Ficus) drop aerial roots down from the ends of their branches once they get big enough. In some species these roots can form an impenetrable curtain that extends up to the branches. Depicted - the Curtain Fig in Queensland.
                            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain_Fig_Tree
                            enter image description here



                            Your tree has aspects of the strangler fig with its curtains of roots and aspects of the banyan, a different fig. Banyan trees are very long lived and grow to become immense. Over time the curtains of roots condense into trunklike "prop roots" in the tree interior.



                            giant banyan
                            https://www.ebay.com/itm/GIANT-BANYAN-TREE-in-Tropical-Florida-POSTCARD-Unused-Vintage-Free-Ship-/182798796629



                            If you can make it through the perimeter curtain of thin young roots expanding the domain of this tree, you might think you are in the shade of a forest. Actually, you are under the tree. Every trunk you see is part of the same tree. The Great Banyan is 4.6 acres - 2 city blocks. It does not take much imagination to scale that up.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Dec 23 '18 at 18:23

























                            answered Dec 23 '18 at 16:59









                            Willk

                            102k25196428




                            102k25196428





















                                3














                                Your trees have been selected by evolution such that their aerial roots anchor themselves in the ground, but would rot and decay if the ground has a high content of water. Borrowing from L.Dutch's intuition about the wind, the actual problem is not bringing the nutrients, but rather avoiding excessive evaporation due to the continuous wind.



                                The process of root rotting is quite simple, and already present in our everyday plants. In fact, in many plants, "excess water makes it very difficult for the roots to get the air that they need, causing them to decay. To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry[..]" [1]



                                In this way, not only your trees get their shield at the edge of the wetland, where the soil becomes drier, but also continue to expand their dominion as the wetland increases in area. Trees whose trunk is not however deep in water will dry out, whither, and die, so that the wall will shrink if the wetland retreats.






                                share|improve this answer

























                                  3














                                  Your trees have been selected by evolution such that their aerial roots anchor themselves in the ground, but would rot and decay if the ground has a high content of water. Borrowing from L.Dutch's intuition about the wind, the actual problem is not bringing the nutrients, but rather avoiding excessive evaporation due to the continuous wind.



                                  The process of root rotting is quite simple, and already present in our everyday plants. In fact, in many plants, "excess water makes it very difficult for the roots to get the air that they need, causing them to decay. To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry[..]" [1]



                                  In this way, not only your trees get their shield at the edge of the wetland, where the soil becomes drier, but also continue to expand their dominion as the wetland increases in area. Trees whose trunk is not however deep in water will dry out, whither, and die, so that the wall will shrink if the wetland retreats.






                                  share|improve this answer























                                    3












                                    3








                                    3






                                    Your trees have been selected by evolution such that their aerial roots anchor themselves in the ground, but would rot and decay if the ground has a high content of water. Borrowing from L.Dutch's intuition about the wind, the actual problem is not bringing the nutrients, but rather avoiding excessive evaporation due to the continuous wind.



                                    The process of root rotting is quite simple, and already present in our everyday plants. In fact, in many plants, "excess water makes it very difficult for the roots to get the air that they need, causing them to decay. To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry[..]" [1]



                                    In this way, not only your trees get their shield at the edge of the wetland, where the soil becomes drier, but also continue to expand their dominion as the wetland increases in area. Trees whose trunk is not however deep in water will dry out, whither, and die, so that the wall will shrink if the wetland retreats.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    Your trees have been selected by evolution such that their aerial roots anchor themselves in the ground, but would rot and decay if the ground has a high content of water. Borrowing from L.Dutch's intuition about the wind, the actual problem is not bringing the nutrients, but rather avoiding excessive evaporation due to the continuous wind.



                                    The process of root rotting is quite simple, and already present in our everyday plants. In fact, in many plants, "excess water makes it very difficult for the roots to get the air that they need, causing them to decay. To avoid root rot, it is best to only water plants when the soil becomes dry[..]" [1]



                                    In this way, not only your trees get their shield at the edge of the wetland, where the soil becomes drier, but also continue to expand their dominion as the wetland increases in area. Trees whose trunk is not however deep in water will dry out, whither, and die, so that the wall will shrink if the wetland retreats.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Dec 23 '18 at 10:20









                                    NofP

                                    2,993421




                                    2,993421



























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