Slenderness

[sloth]

Perhaps I'm overtired or having a blonde moment or not remembering the description from the vta handbook very well, but could someone please explain this...

A tall close grown tree has a stem like long cylinder because incremental growth rings are thicker near the crown, where the food is made in the 'kitchen' (crown, foliage) meaning the base gets just 'scraps'. surely plenty of carbs are sent that way for root growth and buttress development? Which makes me question whether the tree is simply not laying down thicker annual rings toward the base because it is sheltered by its neighbours and has no need to.

Similarly, a phototropic branch is at higher risk of failure, because the carbs needed to provide reinforcing growth near the stem are used near the tips. Surely dissolved sugar etc for growth are sent about the tree and used where needed, not just where produced?

I'm sure this is a silly question with an obvious answer but its bugging me!

[toprotter]

A tree growing in a stand will grow tall and put it energies into competing with the surrounding trees reaching for the light.

It will lay down reaction wood where needed ie at base but remember in the old school method of staking (normally found in old gardens) just above the tree tie it thickens as that is where the reaction wood is needed as the lower stem is reliant on the stake.

Are we talking about an established tree? Planted at the same time as its competition.?

If it was sheltered like in the stake senario then maybe the reaction wood is needed higher up? And thus forming more of a cylinder ( smartie tube) as the tree ages...

I don't know but I thought I would start the ball rolling for you.....Blondie