Any explanations why a tree would split like this?

[RobArb]

and for once, i know what he's talking about:lol:

[janey]

 

there are other cracks in this region that can result from unusual loadings, separation shear cracks, banana cracks and hazard beam cracks can all form in the lower stem or upper root crown

 

The catalyst being the inequality of the forces involved; call them the up and down forces or the tension and compression forces?

[RobArb]

and wind forces

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The catalyst being the inequality of the forces involved; call them the up and down forces or the tension and compression forces?

 

the up and down forces, I shall use that at the seminar in october!

 

but yes:thumbup:

[Fungus]

This was a large, mature oak in one of the parks I've been surveying in, about 1m away from a river bank. The large diagonal split extends from ground level to about 3-3.5m upwards and was approx' 10cm wide at the base and tapered. As you can see, it was all the way through the trunk ... I've never come across this type of splitting in a tree before. Can anyone give an explanation as to what's going on?

 

Janey,

This type of splitting (shear cracks) of a trunk not only can originate from twisting (torsion forces) of a tree "under full sails" or foliage by (rain and) storm winds alone, but sometimes can be predetermined and caused by the mycelium of Ganoderma australe decomposing the central core of the heart wood of oaks (see photo).

---

[janey]

the up and down forces, I shall use that at the seminar in october!

 

but yes:thumbup:

 

Did ya like that? I was trying to make it easier for those reading this who are not fluent in Hama-ese...

 

Most people, in other words

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Did ya like that? I was trying to make it easier for those reading this who are not fluent in Hama-ese...

 

Most people, in other words

 

Oh no, have I become one of "them" people that no one understands? Oh boy I hope not, thats the last thing I want.

[Fungus]

the up and down forces ...

 

... and the cellulose/lignine dependend flexibility/stiffness ratio of the heart wood.

[janey]

... but sometimes can be predetermined and caused by the mycelium of Ganoderma australe decomposing the central core of the heart wood of oaks (see photo).

---

 

TBH, I didn't have a good look for any FBs or decay as that wasn't my remit for being in the park. I have to be very focussed on what I'm being paid for which is OPM surveying and not general tree inspection. I did want to go back in my own time, have a thorough look around and take some more pics, but as the tree is now deceased, there wouldn't be a lot of point

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

... and the cellulose/lignine dependend flexibility/stiffness ratio of the heart wood.

 

as the man says, and it really dont take much "modification" within this region to cause an effect due to the extremes in the region.