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Related: About this forumScientist Says These Trees In Latin America “Walk” More Than 65 Feet A Year
Scientist Says These Trees In Latin America Walk More Than 65 Feet A Year
By Cindy Casares December 23, 2015 11:54am
A strange tree in Central and South America has scientists debating the purpose of its unique, stilt-like root adaptation.
The tree is called Socratea exorrhiza, but it is known colloquially as a "Walking Palm Tree." Rather than having one trunk at its base, the Walking Palm splits off into multiple roots that sit above the ground in a teepee shape. Some scientists say when the roots grow in one direction, the tree follows, sometimes moving more than an inch a day and more than 65 feet in a year.
One theory is that the trees roots move around the rainforest looking for sunlight, while others have reported that its unique roots allow the palm to "walk" away from the point of germination if another tree falls on it when it's still young. In a 1980 article in the journal Biotropica, John H. Bodley and Foley C. Benson wrote: "The aerial stilt roots of Socratea exorrhiza allow this palm literally to pick itself up and 'walk' out from under fallen limbs and obstacles that are major hazards for immature palms. The lower trunk and older roots rot away and are left behind as the tree sends out new roots and moves away from its germination point."
The following diagram found on Wikipedia illustrates their theory.
"A diagram illustrating how the stilt roots of Socratea exhorriza allow it to right itself after other plants collapse on top of it. 1 - the palm is growing normally. 2 - a tree collapses onto the palm and flattens the stem. 3 - new stilt roots form along the old stem and the original roots (dashed lines) start to die. 4 - the palm continues to grow normally but has now moved away from where it originally germinated."
More:
http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/our-issues/walking-trees-latin-america
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,829 posts)2naSalit
(86,771 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,358 posts)When it "walked" it moved rather like a man on crutches. Two of the blunt "legs" slid forward, then the whole thing lurched as the rear one drew almost level with them, then the two in front slid forward again. At each "step" the long stem whipped violently back and forth; it gave one a kind of seasick feeling to watch it. As a method of progress it looked both strenuous and clumsyfaintly reminiscent of young elephants at play. One felt that if it were to go on lurching for long in that fashion it would be bound to strip all its leaves if it did not actually break its stem. Nevertheless, ungainly though it looked, it was contriving to cover the ground at something like an average walking pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triffid
Wyndham's own illustration:
2naSalit
(86,771 posts)I can see where it could be one of these as well. And thanks for the reference, now I have another book to read!
muriel_volestrangler
(101,358 posts)As well as Day of the Triffids, there was "The Kraken Wakes", about an invasion by aliens who decide they can't share the oceans (or the whole planet, really) with humans, and the post-nuclear-war "The Chrysalids". Plus "The Midwich Cuckoos", which you may have seen filmed as "Village of the Damned".
2naSalit
(86,771 posts)My neighbor and I have our own little book club, I'll be sharing this with him or get some insight if he's already read any of these! Thanks!
SacProgressive
(12 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Fascinating. Humanity may be on the brink of mass murder/suicide of many species besides our own, but the Earth will be just fine.
If we could see into the future 1000 years from now, we might not find much that's recognizable to us, but Life will adapt and continue.
Liberty Belle
(9,535 posts)Igel
(35,350 posts)No stilt-roots, but they grow tall and unstable, to a height of 3 feet or so, perhaps more. Then something knocks them over. Where they touch something with enough moisture, they put down roots and grow. After a couple of fairly mild winters (even with the vortices last year, those near our back porch managed to survive) some have migrated their growth points 6 or more feet. Hard to be sure, their original roots are long gone.
I guess they're now Bryophyllum daigremontianum.
There's at least one species of bent grass that grows around Houston that does the same trick. It grows up, flops over, sprouts roots from a joint in the stem and continues to grow.
I guess it's odd in a palm.
csziggy
(34,137 posts)They bloom on the end of a long flexible stem. The flower weighs down the stem so that it touches the ground, then roots grow at the contact point. A new plant will grow at that point and the old flower stem dries up. They can "walk" all over your garden if you're not careful!
They are an attractive plant but unfortunately they are not cold hardy enough for our coldest winters here in North Florida. I'm not sure if I have any left - if I do they have not bloomed for the last several years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neomarica