Rhododendron trunk detail
In this picture we see the three “primary” trunks associated with the subject-rhododendron. Along side the three primary trunks is the newest member – the young fledgling you see just to the left which stands only a few feet tall.
If I were to remove some of the duff from around the base of the trunks, I suspect I would see that these trunks in fact connect directly to other nearby rhododendrons on either side of the trail.
However, I had no intention of disturbing my green friend… so it remains a theory.
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Plus you would need a lot of time for that type of experiment/observation too right?
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Our project was rather short-term... but it would be interesting to learn more about how the plants interconnect.
ReplyDeleteI was most intrigued by learning about mycorrhiza... it's a type of fungus that lives in a symbiotic relationship with tree roots.
Essentially, using one of two main methods, the mycorrhiza fungus grows with the tiny feeding roots of trees, and thereby extends the root system – connecting it with the root systems of other local trees! This allows many trees to share a common source of incoming food and water – pretty amazing!
I don't know whether there are any mycorrhiza which interact with rhododendrons, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were!