William HammondDec 20, 2022
juli g pausas

#Pines not always have straight trunk! Sometimes you find some individuals with funny shapes (left), but the one I found yesterday was exceptional (right), with a 360 degrees loop! What would make this tree to do that loop? Have you ever seen acrobatic trees like this?

Bejis, E Spain (they both are in a #burnt #forest, my "preferred" habitat 😀 )
#Pinus #curiosity #nature #IFBejis

Dec 20, 2022 at 7:38pmWeb
Show threadPetra Kaminen MosherDec 20, 2022
@jgpausas I've come across a couple like that in Finnish (not burnt) forests. I've wondered also how the heck it happened.
Show threadPetra Kaminen MosherDec 20, 2022
@jgpausas I thought I had a photo on my phone, but no luck. I have twisted (like bread sticks) dead pines, for some reason.
Show threadSimon HeyesDec 20, 2022
@jgpausas have they grown around plants or boulders that have rotted/burnt/shifted? I've seen this in river red gums but mostly because as juveniles a food has pushed them over and they've grown in a different shape. Never this extreme.
Show threadjuli g pausasDec 20, 2022
@SimonDHeyes The one on the left grows on a margin next to a road; the margin is unstable so the tree may have responded to changes in that margin. But I do not see anything special around the one on the right that would make that loop! and the loop is not in the base ...
Show threadSimon HeyesDec 20, 2022
@jgpausas I've seen Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) doing this but again at the base. A real puzzle with yours.
Show threadjuli g pausasDec 20, 2022

@SimonDHeyes Got it! I think - Apparently there is a pathogen fungus, Melampsora pinitorqua (= M. populnea), that can twist pines ...

http://www.iefc.net/patho_liste/patho_affiche-php/?langue=fr&display&id_fiche=16

Sélection - European Institute of Planted Forest

The multi-actor network for sustainable management and resilience of planted forests

European Institute of Planted Forest
Show threadCollin EdwardsDec 20, 2022
@jgpausas I don't know about anything quite this wild, but back home the grey pine (Pinus sabiniana) tends to turn pretty Dr. Seus-y as it gets big.