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  Root Physics and Disarticulated Anubias Roots
From: ted.held at us.henkel.com (ted.held at us.henkel.com) on 2008.06.10 at 12:13:32(17826)
Jan's pictures were most interesting. It did look as though the roots had
been cooler than the surrounding root-free plastic, causing condensation
along the root length. I suggest, however, that this is caused by the
difference in mass between the roots plus plastic versus the plastic
sheeting alone. That is, the thin sheet of plastic gets warmer faster
because it has less mass. This creates, in effect, a cooler temperature
under the roots, leading to preferential condensation. Another effect that
may play here is that the underside of the root is in shade, also keeping
it cooler or slowing its warming in the sunlight.

On the subject of root disarticulation, I have seen this with Anubias
species, which have a good grip on the substrate, perhaps due to the same
mechanisms that Peter is describing. But I have never seen a fragment of
disarticulated root regenerate into a new plant. I have, from time to
time, inadvertently created fairly long pieces of isolated Anubias root.
They seemingly survive for months, but eventually give it up without
organizing a new growth point for leaves or green stems. Has anyone on the
list had them regenerate?

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From: botanist at malesiana.com (Peter Boyce) on 2008.06.11 at 21:23:16(17833)
Hi,

The disarticulation I posted concerned shoots tips, not root tips. The shoot tips of rheophytic Asian Schismatoglottideae are capable of breaking off in spate streams and often lodge further downstream and reestablish while the stump and root system that remains regenrates.

Pete

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