[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: TT: locusts

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi all,

The problem I see is _when_ cultivated varieties are the _only_ thing
used.  If we remove the thorns from honeylocust and call that variety
ThornyNOT (just for fun) and then mass produce (clone) ThornyNOT and
sell to all the local nurseries and pretty soon all the planted
honeylocusts in the city are the same tree, ThornyNOT, then we have a
problem.  Let's say this cultivar has a weakness too, oh lets say, dutch
locust disease. We don't know it until it strikes, and once it strikes
its a bit late.

It is a tough issue.  For Honeylocust we have a tree with great
adaptability but only if the thorns are removed.  We need cultivated
varieties of honeylocust in order for it to be successfully used in
urban environments.  The same can be said for seedless (male) varieties
of a lot of other trees, like White Ash.

Around here 'Autumn Purple' White Ash is almost the only variety of
white ash sold.  If left to the local nurseries pretty soon the entire
city would have only one type of White Ash tree growing.  How can we
make sure this doesn't happen?  Maybe the key to all of this is the
recognition that diversity is beauty, not a perfect branching structure
or a great fall color.

Winter is the season for ranting and planning, hmmm :-)

Mark Stephens


-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Neely <ccron@showme.missouri.edu>
To: Community_Forestry <TreeTown@majordomo.flora.com>
Date: Thursday, January 08, 1998 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: TT: locusts


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RT Ellsberry wrote:

>  OK Gary, I'll Take -
>
> As time goes on, TreeTown folks tend to become more firmly committed
> to the wisdom of cultivating locally originating varieties, for the
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^
Precisely my point.  I have nothing against honey locust per se, except
that where I live it so agressively colonizes abandoned farmland that it
tends to overwhelm the other indigenous species.  So why not select for
(anthropomorphically) positive attributes like thornlessness in those
specimens you choose to cultivate?  Thornless honey locust cultivars are
not "exotics" or freaks of nature.  They are developed by selectively
interbreeding specimens from native populations whose genetic
predispostion toward the expression of thorniness is less than the
population at large.  Where's the fun in horticulture if you always have
to accept the hand that Nature deals you.

> benefits that they provide for other (less-tolerant) ecosystem
> inhabitants.  (Not just the native birds, think rare orchids, mosses,
> ferns, insects?)  The latter are often ill-equipt to compete against
> 'invading' species from outside their delicate and specialized home
> conditions.  Ok, I'm agreeing with you, so with that said ...
>
> Most of us also support our local Arboreta and the research work
> that they do on innumerable tree species -- native, introduced,
hybrid,
> grafted and otherwise.
>
> For us 'ordinary' community tree stewards, there can be advantages
> in planting trees that cannot reproduce themselves locally, if we
> enjoy having a few exotic ornamental specimens in our hometown forest.
>
> The non-reproducing would include single-sexed of some species, like
> female hollies or male ginkgos, seedless (engineered) cultivars, or
> trees cared-for so far out of their natural range that they simply
> cannot survive on their own locally.  (As I write this, I am expecting
> that somebody out there is really going to let me have it :) ...
>
>  Richard@Flora.Com
>
>
==============================(TreeTown)===============================


==============================(TreeTown)===============================




 ==============================(TreeTown)===============================