Many of the trees planted around semi-arid southern Utah over the past 150 years are drought tolerant and fast growing—not to mention downright aquisitive. They are typically prolific seeders and sprouters and can quickly colonize an area. The worst of these is probably the inaptly named Chinese Tree of Heaven (Alanthis altisima), an ugly and agressive invader with a foul smell. (I mean, if they've got these things in heaven, I'd rather go to the other place.) Others include various locusts, elms, and poplars. A native tree with similar characteristics is the Box Elder (Acer Negundo). It is a messy, shapeless little tree with poor form and a propensity for rotted heartwood and broken branches. It is also the source of my free firewood for next year (see my February 19 entry). So, I have a bunch of it cut up and laying in the yard. Look what it is doing. This is a very poor picture of a chunk of Box Elder sending up sprouts. This is not rooted; it is not buried; it is not cultivated. It is a piece of firewood that is sprouting. Valerie said that we'd better be careful or our entire wood pile will root itself and turn into a Box Elder tree.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sprouters
Many of the trees planted around semi-arid southern Utah over the past 150 years are drought tolerant and fast growing—not to mention downright aquisitive. They are typically prolific seeders and sprouters and can quickly colonize an area. The worst of these is probably the inaptly named Chinese Tree of Heaven (Alanthis altisima), an ugly and agressive invader with a foul smell. (I mean, if they've got these things in heaven, I'd rather go to the other place.) Others include various locusts, elms, and poplars. A native tree with similar characteristics is the Box Elder (Acer Negundo). It is a messy, shapeless little tree with poor form and a propensity for rotted heartwood and broken branches. It is also the source of my free firewood for next year (see my February 19 entry). So, I have a bunch of it cut up and laying in the yard. Look what it is doing. This is a very poor picture of a chunk of Box Elder sending up sprouts. This is not rooted; it is not buried; it is not cultivated. It is a piece of firewood that is sprouting. Valerie said that we'd better be careful or our entire wood pile will root itself and turn into a Box Elder tree.
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If you let a few sprout, you'll have some more free firewood in about 60 years.
ReplyDeletehey, don't be so hard the the ol' box elder. We can all be tough AND pretty.
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