|
|
|
Forum Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/11/2008 01:32:48
Posts: 37,
Visits: 48
|
|
On a number of occasions in discussions both here and in another place, I have noticed reference to a tree's "energy", often with reference to flowering, or the removal of foliage. Example - Stymie, in Tuppence's thread about white pine cones, you refer to the desirability of not leaving too many cones on a pine to preserve its energy.
I just wonder if we can possibly tease this out? In natural conditions, a pine tree will form as many cones as it can, as these are its means of reproduction (and reproduction is, after all, what life is all about), so in what sense is it's "energy" sapped? And what is it's "energy"?
It's an intriguing notion, one which (it seems to me) we can all agree on so long as we don't ask too closely about what it means!
I should love to learn others' views! SJ.
Surrey John says "keep pruning".
|
|
|
|
|
Genius
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 25/05/2011 10:11:13
Posts: 699,
Visits: 605
|
|
Perhaps it's to do with the trees being in pots and containers, John. The nutrients available to be taken up and turned into energy to produce cones are limited because of space restriction, and by removing cones, the nutrients are free to be used in other ways by the trees.
...Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire...
Webshots
http://www.picturesofengland.com
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/11/2009 07:51:20
Posts: 47,
Visits: 387
|
|
All plants, as I'm sure you know, gather energy from the sun and convert it into stored, chemical energy in the form of glucose (and in some cases starch). This energy then fuels respiration (the basic process of life, which allows cells to function) and growth (essentially based on the splitting of cells to form new ones) .
Creating new tissue uses energy, as does sustaining existing tissue, so the plant's available energy is split between these two functions. This is why (or at least part of the reason, but I'm trying to keep it simple) a tree that is severely pruned grows long, strong new growth - less energy is needed to support existing growth, so more is available to grow new shoots. Similarly, fruit on apple tree is regularly thinnned so that you end up with fewer, better -quality fruit, rather than many smaller ones. Bulbous plants do better next year if they are deadheaded this year, as more energy can be stored in the bulbs, rather than being used in the production of fruit, etc.
As stated above, available energy is only part of the picture (the availability of nutrients and presence of hormones play key roles in the growth and health of plants as well), but energy is the limiting factor in most life functions.
As another analogy, imagine yourself - whilst it's iimportant in the long run to make sure you have the right balance of nutrients, vitamins etc, to grow healthy new tissue, in a survival situation it's far more important that you simply obtain enough energy (calories) just to keep your body functioning...
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/11/2008 01:32:48
Posts: 37,
Visits: 48
|
|
That's a great explanation, Jim, for which thanks very much. So long as one is talking in those terms, "energy" makes sense. It's people we start slipping off the scientific straight and narrow to speak of "energy" in a vague way such as "energy lines" that I find things get difficult. Which doesn't mean I think we should only speak in strictly scientific manner - nothing would be more stultifying. Long live poetry and music!
SJ.
Surrey John says "keep pruning".
|
|
|
|