[College of ACES] [University of Illinois] [Illinois CES]

Re: Root Contest

acadbill@gatenet.ag.uiuc.edu
Tue, 15 Apr 1997 07:27:27 -0500

the assumption that an aquatic environment is without o2
is a poor one. aquatic plants have roots that are submersed
and they don't have problems. bald cypress and royal palms
do well on land, as well as submerged the greater portion of
the year. These examples of plants adapting to a root/soil
saturated site may pose furthur questions, such as mechanisms that
allow these plants to thrive under conditions that many plants
can't tolerate. i.e. the bald cypress knees, may function as a source of o2.

just food for thought; bill, wpb, fl

p.s., we measured a ficus root 50 feet long, that we discovered in an
irrigation pipe that was abandoned for several years. this was from a 3 ft
ficus shrub source. the moisture source in an unused broken
3/4 inch pvc pipe? We assumed the condensation of humid warm air during the
cooler night tempratures was the source of water.