I have been busy with too many things, so I apologize: no techy blog post this weekend. But what I can share is a unique wonder of nature encountered during a bike trip today at the end of the Klöntalsee:
Trees growing on a tree (click to enlarge)
That pictures shows a big maple tree with two coniferous trees growing on it. If you don’t spot them: click on the picture to enlarge. That maple tree grows around 1200 meter above sea level, inside a bigger group of maple trees on the north side of the group. Because that way things are still kind of humid on the tree, it can host these two other threes. I estimate the age of the two trees between 10 and 15 years. I’m wondering how long this can continue?
Happy Growing 🙂
MCU on Eclipse 
That’s pretty cool. Do you think the conifer roots penetrate the bark of the maple? I imagine they must have taken root originally in the mats of moss.
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Yes, they have taken root in a small niche filled with moss. I don’t know if they penetrate the bark, and if so probably only lightly.
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It is really a beautiful place, I am very envious of your life there!
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That is worthy of Ripley’s Believe it or not.
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I know that with the soul/fungal/root network works together in a hive mind kind of way , so I imagine the tree is “sapping” pun intended some energy from the other tree whilst the tree doesn’t have to expend any energy in the area where the conifers are I imagine there’s a dual benefit if not that then somehow. I would imagine the roots have to penetrate something whether it’s a moss /dirt substrate or the roots are actually part of the tree at this point so to speak .
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I have visited that place recently, and that conifer is still on top of it, but did not grow much. The place is more in a shadow part of the valley, so it is possible for that second tree to survive if it is not too hot or dry.
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