Important Question

[Hassan Tariq]

Hello, do you think that this tree has been shaped by nature or by humans?

http://www.pakoz.com.au/Portals/0/images/PICT0040.JPG

 

[Pelorus]

Yes.

 

[woodchuck357]

Looks like a sycamore that grew on the bank of a stream, the stream eroded the soil away, then the stream changed course or dried up.

 

[Hassan Tariq]

@Pelorus : Yes to what? Humans or nature?

Woodchuck357 : Isn't this eucalyptus?

 

[Hassan Tariq]

Also, has anyone seen a tree similar to this? It looks very unnatural to me, but I am interested in your opinions, since I am not very experienced.

 

[GrassGuerilla]

opcorn:

 

[treesmith]

Looks like Spotted gum..? Are you in Oz? Trees do that, I've seen euro Beech, Holly and Oak grow out of sandstone rock faces and still reach 70'+ with big roots all above ground. Looks like something bad happened a time ago (big old wound at the first bend) and it just reacted and carried on

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[Pelorus]

Is this a trick question?

 

[Hassan Tariq]

No, it's not a trick question lol. This is a genuine question. And yes, this is from my trip to Australia. Good guess! Do you think it is more likely that this was nature's doing or a human being's doing?

@treesmith: Have you seen trunks with a horizontal bend like this though? And how do you think the wound was caused?

 

[jefflovstrom]

Sycamore,,nature.
Jeff

 

[treesmith]

Looks to me there was a stem or branch growing upright and something caused it to rip out or the leader died, the swollen bits are the trees way of reacting by structurally strengthening the bits that need it. Looks like the remaining branch started growing horizontally then found light and went up, this is just a guess based on a photo but I've seen similar many times as I'm sure have most others here. I grew up in mixed Oak woods that were used for old wooden warships, old growth coppice and pollards of British natives. It never ceased to amaze me the shapes trees can come up with just on their own. Used to come across Sycamore on a regular basis, haven't seen one in Oz yet but the bark is similar. My money is on spotted gum, the bark, colour and purple patches look identical to my mind

I'll be back, dinner time


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[treesmith]

can be quite varied, purple to white and all in between. Hope this helps

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[Raintree]

Young sapling pinned to the ground by a falling near by larger tree. Top dies out, bent over sapling trunk regrows from side limb.

 

[Hassan Tariq]

The reason why I asked if it was shaped by a human is because of these : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_trees Here is an example of a picture of a trail marker tree : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Trail_Marker_Tree_located_on_the_border_of_Mettawa_and_West_Lake_Forest,_IL.jpg These were bent when the tree was a young sapling and pinned down. However, the theory only holds for trees in North America.

Hence, I ask two questions:

1) Has anyone seen a tree with a horizontal trunk like this?
2) Has anyone seen a tree with a horizontal trunk like this, outside of North America?
3) Regarding questions 1) and 2), what about seeing a horizontal trunk like this AND seeing a branch collar similar to the picture (the thing sticking out in the right side of the tree)? If so, can you please mention the country also?

Sorry for so many questions, but I would greatly, greatly appreciate this.

 

[jefflovstrom]

The reason why I asked if it was shaped by a human is because of these : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_trees Here is an example of a picture of a trail marker tree : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Trail_Marker_Tree_located_on_the_border_of_Mettawa_and_West_Lake_Forest,_IL.jpg These were bent when the tree was a young sapling and pinned down. However, the theory only holds for trees in North America.

Hence, I ask two questions:

1) Has anyone seen a tree with a horizontal trunk like this?
2) Has anyone seen a tree with a horizontal trunk like this, outside of North America?

Regarding both questions, what about seeing a horizontal trunk like this AND seeing a branch collar similar to the picture (the thing sticking out in the right side of the tree)?

Sorry for so many questions, but I would greatly, greatly appreciate this.

The gum guy's might see something I don't,,,,looks like a sycamore,,that is so natural of them,,btw,I am a euc guy.
Jeff opcorn:

 

[Hassan Tariq]

Hey, thank you for your reply, but I'm not really concerned about what type of tree it is :/ I just edited my post also Questions 1), 2), and 3) can apply to any tree. Thank you, i I will really appreciate this.

 

[woodchuck357]

Trail marker trees are a myth. A limb, trunk or something else falls on a small tree and causes the horizontal growth, the tip of the tree grows up by nature creating the "trail marker" tree. The tree, limb or whatever falls away or rots and a natural oddity is formed. Sure, they may be noted and used as land marks after they get larger, but they weren't created for that purpose. I have watched several grow in woods I work and play in. The species of tree is probably unimportant, but it still looks like a sycamore from a stream bank.
There are thousands of horizontal lines in an unmanaged woodlot, every good hunter looks for specific markers of their prey. Looking for horizontal lines is a "tip" often repeated by outdoor writers who spend most of their hunting trips in bars and motel rooms with hookers.

 

[treesmith]

Can you remember what the leaves looked like? Finger shape leaves for gum, hand shape for sycamore which is maple family. Google Acer Pseudoplatanus

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[joezilla11]

You obviously think its a trail marker but why are you so hung up on it? I'm just curious

 

[PJM]

I've seen similar trees that I think are naturally caused. However, if there is evidence of historical use as a trail it may be fair to speculate that these were man-made. See also http://www.greatlakestrailtreesociety.org/

In the attached photo it is safe to suspect a natural cause due to the height of the bend.