And another days larch work

[wireme]

Any or all of this could be from pre-existing buds.

Yeah, probably, I just had a peek at some trees behind the house. Old bud clusters that look like they are growing out from old bark. I think they are remnants of original branches and buds just keeping pace with bark growth. A strategy to keep some buds in reserve for when the old branches are lost.

 

[wireme]

Those buds are at the bases of these trees, probably 80-100yrs old.

 

[davetree]

Some of these buds were already present, some were not.

 

[davetree]

Some of these buds were already present, some were not.

I guess they are latent buds, not completely unformed, if that is what you are getting at as far as your definition of back budding.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

I have never ever seen that before. This is a first for me.

 

[davetree]

I have never ever seen that before. This is a first for me.

I was surprised too, when it happened.

 

[crust]

Can't say about trees in pots but old larix occidentalis appear to backbud around the branch collar when they reach old age. The original branches break and are replaced with clusters of small scrubby branches at the trunk. Huge old trunks, small short branch clusters at the end of their lifespan, like giant hairy carrots.
I don't really have a pic of the classic hairy carrot look I'm thinking of but here's a few that kind of show what I'm getting at. I'm pretty sure this is true backbudding and not old long buried buds?

Love the trees Crust!View attachment 68585 View attachment 68586 View attachment 68587 View attachment 68588

Cool shots of the larch trees--perhaps they do back-bud--I never have seen it in any of my potted or growing bed trees.

 

[crust]

I do know the species has an unusual trait of keeping singular buds, often at branch bases, that never divide and hardly grow at all each year. I have trees with little 1/2" twiglets with a single bud on the end coming from around branch bases that are over thirty years old. They are like back-up mechanisms I understand.

 

[wireme]

I do know the species has an unusual trait of keeping singular buds, often at branch bases, that never divide and hardly grow at all each year. I have trees with little 1/2" twiglets with a single bud on the end coming from around branch bases that are over thirty years old. They are like back-up mechanisms I understand.

Having gone for a walk and closer look i've changed my mind about the back budding of the big old larches, now I'm thinking its more like the backup buds you're talking about. If thats the case its interesting how they spread and grow into multi-branch bulges over the years.
Glad you like the pics, these tree are very impressive in person. My area used to be full of millennia old larch before the loggers came, the springboard stumps are still standing. Old stands of 800+ yr old trees still exist, mostly in hard access rocky canyons, I love to walk through them when I can.

 

[ghues]

Agree here Jerry - dormant buds at the juncture of pre-existing buds/branches but they can also be found (with some species) in other areas within the main stem and/or branch.
Never the less and back to the thread - I love what Crust is doing with his native larches.
Cheers
Graham

 

[KennedyMarx]

Very nice trees, Crust! I missed out on these when you posted them. Thankfully I was rummaging through some old "other conifers" threads.