Aerial Roots from Old Tree Wound.

Recently, a lnorthern red oak tree was found on the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Buncombe County, North Carolina, with an unusual and interesting group of aerial roots originating from the callused area surrounding an old wound. This tree, shown in the accompanying photograph, is about 100 feet high, has approximately 3 log lengths and is 33.5 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground. It is an overmature or decadent tree, with a rather flat top, two or three large dead limbs, and a large "conk" on the bole about 40 feet above ground. Otherwise it is apparently in good health.According to ring counts on the callused area surrounding the wound, 11 years have elapsed since some undetermined cause killed approximately one-third of the eircumference, from the ground line to an average height of 7 feet. Most of the bark over the wounded or dead area was intact when the tree was discovered a short time ago. Approximately two inches of the sapwood has decayed and is now in a dry powdery-rot condition, with hundreds of small worm holes extending into the heartwood. The area surrounding the wound has callused in the usual manner. The live portion directly above the wound, and at one point midway up on the side of the callused area, has sent out groups of rope-like growths extending to the ground and forming fibrous roots. There are three separate such growths, approximately one inch in diameter, reaching the ground, with several smaller ones extending varying distances down through the rotted sapwood under the bark. A portion of the fibrous roots from one of the strands is shown lying on top of the hammer in the photograph on page 690. These rope-like aerial roots are provided with a bark covering similar to ordinary roots, and are independent of the parent tree, except at their point of origin.