Recent comments in /f/todayilearned

Chagrinnish t1_j6hacjp wrote

Reply to comment by dishonourableaccount in TIL redwood trees -- growing to heights of 350 feet or more (over 100 meters) -- have roots that go only about ten feet into the ground. by OccludedFug

>Roots on the other hand typically want to be close enough to the surface to get water and nutrients in soft soil rather than less rich soil and harder rock below.

The roots need oxygen and do not grow where they cannot breathe. Any water or nutrients they find is just a bonus.

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herbw t1_j6h9f86 wrote

Reply to comment by a_weak_child in TIL redwood trees -- growing to heights of 350 feet or more (over 100 meters) -- have roots that go only about ten feet into the ground. by OccludedFug

The Notorious and common Spread Eagle spp. from what we hear... Esp. common in, near redwoods during summers.

Occ. but not often seen, are the 2 Bakt Beasts found. Their typical call is a long drawn out, low moaning sound. Our thanx to the Bard of Avon.

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herbw t1_j6h8vqm wrote

Reply to comment by DistortoiseLP in TIL redwood trees -- growing to heights of 350 feet or more (over 100 meters) -- have roots that go only about ten feet into the ground. by OccludedFug

Not in cali, tho. IN the national park west of Pike's peak, called Florissant Fossil Beds, there are fossil remains of Sequoia leaves there and those were as old as dinos.

The Rocky Mtn. Orogeny was volcanic and likely due to subduction over the pacific plate there. Hard to realize that most of western US was not there 75 M yrs. ago. The Rockies may have been as high as 16-20K feet high peaks back then too.

There are some good geological guides to the Central Rockies.

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herbw t1_j6h7bsc wrote

Reply to comment by dvdmaven in TIL redwood trees -- growing to heights of 350 feet or more (over 100 meters) -- have roots that go only about ten feet into the ground. by OccludedFug

good points. The roots cannot send up enough water to fully water the coastal redwoods. That is done by fog condensing on their special leaves absorbing water by that means. but they do get lots of rain there far south as Sta. Cruz where the most southerly groves are.

Capillary action cannot supply water needs, alone to the redwoods. The same fogs come on shore in summer and it rains from the fog banks, tho.

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herbw t1_j6h749b wrote

Reply to TIL redwood trees -- growing to heights of 350 feet or more (over 100 meters) -- have roots that go only about ten feet into the ground. by OccludedFug

400' are about the records, coastal redwoods. Giant redwoods the most massive living species tho the wood is not really alive.

even if they fall over, just enough of the roots are left living and those will often sprout in large rings of new saplings, thus replenishing the species. Except for Bristlecone pines, which are very rare, and live at freezin altitudes, thus their longevities bein in a natural freezer part of the year.

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