Tule Tree

Tule Tree, Mexico	James Parton
	Dec 20, 2007

== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Thurs, Dec 20 2007 9:16 pm
From: James Parton

Bob, ENTS.

Including the Baobab, the largest girthed trees I know of are the
Monteczuma Cypresses. The Tule Tree in Mexico is the largest I know
of. Another one is the fused trunked European Chestnut called " The
tree of a thousand horses ". With the Baobabs these are reported to be
the largest girthed trees known. The Giant Sequoias are just behind
these.

Enjoy the links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDelFeU1nbA&feature=related

http://worldexperience.com/ps_2000-02-18_arbol_del_tule.html

http://www.helium.com/tm/343523/interesting-question-widest-recorded

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A22716713

James Parton.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Baobabs
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/3e7011caa152159d?hl=en
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== 1 of 6 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 21 2007 8:49 am
From: Gary Smith

James/ENTS,

There has been lots of speculation about the Tule tree over the years.
I know the DNA samples indicate a single tree, but many believe it is
some fused trees. I also think some of the age estimates are high.

From the peanut gallery,

gs

p.s. There is supposed to be an experimental planting of baobabs at
the University of Arizona, in case anybody lives near there and would
like to see them.

== 2 of 6 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 21 2007 9:56 am
From: abies2@u.washington.edu

Greetings,

I have spent many hours measuring the Tule Tree, and I very much believe the age estimates.

For one thing, it was described by the earliest Spanish settlers - 500 years ago - when even then it was an extremely large tree. It was partly hollowed out with a fire cave. There is no evidence of this now.

I measured three other Taxodiums in Mexico which were more than 18 feet in diameter. Even though I think these trees ranged in age from 600-1500 years, I think they are MUCH younger than the Tule Tree. These other trees had round branches. The Tule Tree has extremely asymmetrical branches. I have also seen this characteristic in very old Thuja, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, and Ginkgo.

The crown of the Tule Tree has amazing, ribbon-like branches with massive buttresses. There are several places in the crown where the branches have fused.

There are 12,000 cubic feet of wood in just the first 25 feet off the ground!

Words and pictures cannot express how amazing this tree truly is!

Cheers,
- BVP

== 5 of 6 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 21 2007 1:09 pm
From: Gary Smith

BVP,

How old would you reckon the Tule tree to be?

If it was a large tree 500 years ago, that wouldn't necessarily make
it 3,000 years old, which are some of the age estimates, would it?

Also, in your experience, is the condition of tree bark ever an
indicator of great age, in your experience?

Thanks,

gs

== 6 of 6 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 21 2007 1:14 pm
From: Gary Smith

BVP,

To clarify the tree bark question, maybe I not talking so much of
condition, but rather appearance of the bark, as an indicator of great
age.

Hope this makes sense.

gs

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Tule Tree
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/3e7011caa152159d?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Dec 21 2007 6:28 pm
From: "Edward Frank"

ENTS,

Because samples from different parts of the tree are the same genetically,
does not mean that the tree is a single stem tree. Redwoods are known to
reproduce parthenogenically and produce genetically identical clones of
themseleves. Two of these that grew together would appear a a single
genetic identity. In addition trees may send out subsurface roots and
sprout additional stems at a distance from the first. These are all
genetically identical. Other trees send out branches that can root when
they touch the ground creating a second stem genetically identical to the
parent tree. If the Tule tree sprouted from a large stump, each individual
stem on opposite sides of the stump sprout would also be genetically the
same. Do these make it a single tree - yes and no, depending on how you
define a single tree. I have not seen the tree, so BVP may have a better
idea if the tree is a single trunk, or if it is a fused mass of genetically
identical trunks.

Ed Frank

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Dec 25 2007 6:31 pm
From: "Edward Frank"

ENTS,

The legend of the Tule Tree

http://www.nyu.edu/projects/julian/legend.html

Ed

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