Now I Know Why

Actually it is because before the leaves even unfurl you have those brilliant red samara that light it up
like Christmas then the red petiole to the leaf.
 
What I find odd is why you would air layer an acer rubrum anyway, theyre everywhere! Most people wouldnt even bother digging a small one up let alone airlayering one.
 
actually I'm air-layering my neighbor's thuya occidentalis right now and the roots are red too... ;)
 
JoeR said:
What I find odd is why you would air layer an acer rubrum anyway, theyre everywhere! Most people wouldn't even bother digging a small one up let alone airlayering one.
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While there are some landscape plantings around, acer rubrum isn't so common here on the Pacific coast.

But, the story on this one is that it was a freebee as part of an Arborday membership and it is a cultivar that turns a rather pretty yellow (with red veins) in fall rather than red. With this as the point of interest, I am air layering to break it down into several short stems to be rejoined to produce a multitrunk or group planting. It is another of numerous 'wastes of time' that give me something to do instead of incessantly picking at my better stuff.

Besides, layering is a very fruitful activity for learning about tree physiology and this tree is no exception. Layer roots in sphagnum are characteristically thick fleshy things and always white. This is the first time I've ever seen red roots. Often layers of japanese maples will fail because the cambium dies just below the girdle and, in turn, causes the xylem lumens to be clogged. This can all be explained by auxin transport in the phloem and cambium. I originally layered 3 stems on this tree, cutting the girdles before bud break. Surprisingly, all three failed identically and in an anomolous way: the cambium died, but above the girdle(s) rather than below and clogged the xylem (buds broke, leafs emerged and promptly withered). I've never seen this happen before and it implies some anomolous tree physiology. I like sleuthing out these little mysteries; fun stuff IMHO.
 
Alain said:
actually I'm air-layering my neighbor's thuya occidentalis right now and the roots are red too... ;)
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Thanks.

So, this is going to be a replay of the ant farm tale from Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle" where the scientist went up the mountain to study ants and came be back later to tell everyone what they already knew. :D
 
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