A sinewy hornbeam_Wanted_preferably live

Could not resist to share a pic of a hornbeam that I have spot recently.  It is still quite young tree up to 5m but the sinewy trunk is fascinating.

Wow, fantastic trunk!

Bet it'll take some digging though

Good luck with that.

regards

Richard

i cannot help but think that is numerous trees that for some (unseen at the present) reason have grown together over the course of time...

but considering the openness around it, that seems unlikely without the hand of man or some other outside force...

Well, I am not collecting trees I am not able to carry on my shoulders.  That makes a limit of 50-60 kilos.   This one is well over the limit. And besides it is the best specimen of this variety I have ever seen - it will stay in peace there

There are few hornbeams in the same area with a similar shape of the trunk. Not that spectacular though.   I think it could be a trait caused by a genetic variation.

Some others:

And unless they already have branches down low to cut to for the next section of trunk it takes forever to grow the next section from scratch.
I gave up on hornbeam until I find one with low branches.

No chance of testing an airlayer or cutting ?
Laters.
Khaimraj

Too much traffic in the area for a decent airlayer Khaimraj.   But it is for sure a good idea to find out a way forward while leaving the tree on the first pic in peace.

I collected a smaller trunk of this variety (let's suppose it is a variety ) two years ago.  It is less dramatic but I think this is something that develops  with age.   As Mike wrote - so far the tree has sent only new terminal while the lower section of the trunk is as bare as a baby's  back.  I have make few threadgrafts there to fix it.  Lets see in couple of years how this goes.

wow !!!
well i stand corrected... those are great !!!

regarding the possibility of doing and air layer and "traffic" in the area, i have found that a hard hat, an orange safety vest and a jangley tool belt will make you practically invisible to passersby

go in, do an air-layer, wrap the ends in orange duct tape, and hang a "do not disturb" sign on it (minus the hotel logo)

and this one may be worth a trunk chop and then wait to see if it spits new branches...
very little effort for possible huge reward ?

kevin stoeveken wrote:
regarding the possibility of doing and air layer and "traffic" in the area, i have found that a hard hat, an orange safety vest and a jangley tool belt will make you practically invisible to passersby

You sound like a guy with hands on experience Kevin, but you are certainly right Unfortunately the traffic is made not only by people but also by a wild boars that are very curious by their nature. Anyway. I am an yamadori freak so it is clear I have something at home and some others stumps in the preparation. Please bear with me, I promise to share one or two trunks of this variety that I have collected already. Not now, I need to be sure they have made it through the first and second winter. Based on my experience this is the most critical period for larger hornbeams.

dynamite !!!

can not wait to see them...
i have been quite impressed with what you have decided to share so far...

(btw - some lively discussion going on over at the blog !)

I adore hornbeams! I have tried (knowing this will be a failure for sure...) with one nursery grown hornbeam but climate conditions are prohibitive in my place.

Vlad wrote:... ... I think it could be a trait caused by a genetic variation.

Nature's "mind" is the most imaginative, Vladimir. Thus most admired!

kevin stoeveken wrote:
can not wait to see them...

So am I Kevin. The "cords" or muscles are in fact live veins that for some reasons proliferated. I wonder how they react on the reduction of their feeder roots... We will see...

Alexandra - this is the main reason why I am "native" oriented. Despite the fact that I have a great respect for the old olive trees and some other species ...

Another specimen to share.




I have collected some seeds.   Lets see how much heritability is behind this feature.    Just 10 - 15 years to wait