Re: [Aroid-l] Thorns on Aroids

From: <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2009.03.05 at 11:08:22 Dear Beth and Friends=2C These Silk Cotton trees may be exibiting a condition (whose name I can not recall at this moment!) where some species of tree exude ''something'' which prevents to growth of competing vines=2C etc. =3B Here in Florida nothing will grow under the branches/drip- line OR climb a =3B Norfolk Pine=2C and I believe Australian ''pines'' and even =3B native Floridan pines demonstrate this "ability"! Perhaps someone ''out there'' has additional information on this one? Good Growing=2C Julius From: desinadora@mail2designer.com To: aroid-l@gizmoworks.com Date: Mon=2C 2 Mar 2009 09:14:50 -0800 Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Thorns on Aroids Leland=2C I wonder if there's a chemical that the Ceiba thorns exude that make it inhospitable to plants - it's not just Aroids that won't grow on them when they've got the thorns=2C they're completely free of competing species. Not even moss or lichen will grow on that bark! It's not particularly delicate or easy-sloughing either=2C just very very smooth over the thorn surface. Here at least=2C the thorns comprise the entire bark surface for the first 100 years or so of the tree's life. After that=2C it becomes a veritable epiphyte condominium=2C although the tree continues to produce some substance that inhibits the growth of strangler figs. I'd be interested to find out=2C but I have no clue how to go about testing for an unknown tree phytotoxin. It's not obvious=2C the way that it is for walnuts - although oddly enough=2C a slightly thorny Anthurium does tend to colonize these with no ill effects=2C even though the walnuts are suppressing all other plant growth in the area. I'm at a loss to explain that one. Beth_______________________________________________________________ Get the Free email that has everyone talking at http://www.mail2world.com Unlimited Email Storage =96 POP3 =96 Calendar =96 SMS =96 Translator =96 Much More! --_8bf8dfdb-2be9-4e2c-8055-81e8fba007ab_----===============8479015786288771344==

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