RESEARCH:
I want to tell you about the findings of plants and trees communicating, living life together – in communities – however, the forest scientist Peter Wohlleben does it perfectly. The story he shares of a ‘dead’ tree – found alive after about 500 years – is pivotal in his book.
Peter Wohlleben: The Hidden Life of Trees
Here is an image of a Kauri tree in New Zealand that refuses to die. Are other trees holding the ‘hands’ of this slain giant – nursing it for years?
A kauri tree stump in a rain forest in New Zealand with sap flow sensors and other equipment attached. Essentially, kauri trees “hold hands” beneath the ground, sharing water and nutrients through an interconnected root system. Credit: Sebastian Leuzinger. Sebastian, thanks for sharing this extraordinary picture! Reported by Laine Moger, Auckland General Reporter (NZ) – Stuff. Link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/114534612/this-kauri-treestump-has-stunned-the-science-world-because-it-refused-to-die
From the author’s sketchbook: Mycelium. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus or fungus-like bacterial colony, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. The mass of hyphae is sometimes called Shiro, especially within the fairy ring fungi. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other substrates. A typical single spore germinates into a monokaryotic mycelium, which cannot reproduce sexually; when two compatible monokaryotic mycelia join and form a dikaryotic mycelium, that mycelium may form fruiting bodies such as mushrooms. A mycelium may be minute, forming a colony that is too small to see or may grow to span thousands of acres as in Armillaria. William Van Zyl
Read the complete article (blog post):
Description
Hickory, Dickory, Tree – Dockerty, Hockerty, Dock
A mouse
Hickory Dickory Tree. The mouse went up the tree
The tree said no: “Not allowed.” The bark made it itch
The mouse immediately went down
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
A snake
Hickory Dickory tree. The snake went up the tree
The tree said “yes,” The bark smelled nice, and the snake went up
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
A squirrel
Hickory Dickory Tree. The squirrel went up the tree
The tree said yes” “Deposit your nut in my bark and leave.” It did.
Soon the repulsive smell of the leaves made the squirrel leave
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
A cat
Hickory Dickory Tree. The cat went up the tree
The tree said: “Be careful not to scratch me. The bark became sticky
The cat went only halfway up and then — immediately — clambered down
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
A monkey
Hickory Dickory Tree. The monkey went up the tree
The tree said: “Don’t break my branches.” The smell of the leaves revolted the monkey
The monkey went only halfway up and then came rushing down
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock
An elephant – oh no!
Hickorty dickorty tree. The elephant placed his huge trunk against the tree
The tree said: “Don’t push me over!” The tree had no time to respond
The elephant did not hear the tree’s voice – it was too late.
It pushed the forest tree, oh wee.
Dockerty, Hockorty, Crackerty, Bonk!
Tick tock, tick tock, in a matter of seconds, the tree flopped
A friend
Hickory Dickory Tree. The tree was laying on its side
The tree said to the neighbouring trees: “I need help.” The scent of the hurting tree went to the neighbours; its roots also sent electrical messages. Fungi relayed every word.
The hurting tree relaxed – it knew its neighbours had his back
Hickory Dickory Tree
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock – you won’t believe – the tree lived another 500 years.
From fun to research
This fun rhyme – based on the well-known Hickory, Dickory, Dock – endeavours to get the reader’s attention to the animals and the tree talking. Playfully it wants to draw the reader in. But there is more, much more.
Could trees, plants and animals communicate? Could humans and trees communicate? We know that trees communicate with one another—above the ground and underground. These are some of the questions this article will touch on.
The unsuspected withering of a tree will also feature.
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