Primary longitudinal resin canals in lodgepole pine occur in Fibonacci numbers

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 1539-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur L Fredeen ◽  
Kevin T Hoekstra ◽  
Robert W Madill

Primary (nontraumatic) longitudinal resin canals (RCs) in immature (expanding) and mature stems of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) were found to occur in Fibonacci (F) numbers (specifically 5, 8, 13, and 21). The most commonly observed number of RCs in immature stem circumferences was 13 (53% of all immature stems surveyed), but 8, 21, and 5 were also observed in decreasing order of prevalence, respectively. In general, the greater the immature stem diameter, the higher the F number of the RCs. However, branch order appeared to have the greatest effect on the number of RCs. Specifically, the leader (1° axis) generally had 21 RCs in the terminal bud and 13 in the lateral buds. All other terminal axes (i.e., 2°, 3°, 4°) tended to 13, while associated lateral axes tended to 8. The same general relationships between number of RCs, stem diameter, and branch order were also observed for mature (woody) branchlets of lodgepole pine, for example, 13 RCs were also the most prevalent F number observed (i.e., in 48% of the observed branchlets). The phyllotactic chirality was also assessed for mature branch samples. A tree tends to retain a phyllotactic chirality (or handedness) as branch order increases, despite decreases in the number of RCs from 21 to 5 from low to high branch orders. The implication of these findings to helical phyllotactic development in conifers is discussed.Key words: Fibonacci numbers, resin canals, lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, phyllotaxis.

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1989-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon D Nigh ◽  
Bobby A Love

The best estimates of site index, an indicator of site productivity, are obtained from site trees. Undamaged site trees should be sampled to obtain unbiased estimates of site index. Two juvenile height growth modelling projects provided us with sufficient data to assess our ability to select undamaged lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Dougl.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) site trees. The sample trees were split open to measure height growth from the terminal bud scars. Splitting the stems also revealed damage that was not visible from the outside of the tree. Over 50% of the lodgepole pine trees and 75% of the white spruce trees had damage, which was much higher than expected. Possible causes of damage are frost and insects. The damage does not significantly reduce the height of the spruce trees, but there is evidence that the heights of the lodgepole pine trees are reduced.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-188
Author(s):  
Aris Jansons ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Agris Pobiarzens ◽  
Linards Sisenis ◽  
Una Neimane

AbstractIn forestry, alien tree species are planted to maximize yield from a stand by increasing productivity and decreasing environmental risks. In Eastern Europe, lodgepole pine (Pinus contortavar.latifolia) might be used as a source of biomass and industrial wood; however, before any recommendations are given, possible gains of the novel species should be scrupulously evaluated. In this study, we compared volume and proportion of knotty stemwood (VKN) of native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from first generation seed orchards and provenances of alien lodgepole pine [Fort Nelson (58°38’ N, 122°41’ W) and Summit Lake (54°24› N, 122°37› W)] at the age of 27 years growing in central Latvia. We also assessed the relationships between VKN and several morphometric parameters.Stem diameter of both species was similar; however, Summit Lake provenance of lodgepole pine exceeded Scots pine in height, while Fort Nelson provenance was lower than Scots pine. Although Scots pine produced nearly two times less whorls than lodgepole pine, volume of knotless stemwood did not differ significantly between the species; though it was higher for Summit Lake provenance of lodgepole pine compared to Scots pine. In contrast, the proportion of VKN differed significantly between both the species and the provenances. Scots pine showed the lowest proportion of VKN (~ 9%) and Fort Nelson provenances of lodgepole pine showed the highest proportion of VKN (~ 14%). Thus, Summit Lake appears more suitable for the production of industrial wood amongst the provenances of lodgepole pine; nevertheless, higher quantity of leftover material is expected. Some morphometric parameters correlated with VKN and the proportion of VKN, but these relationships differed between species and provenances. The total cross-section of branches was the best predictors of VKN for Scots pine and Fort Nelson provenance of lodgepole pine, while stem diameter showed the strongest correlation for Summit Lake provenance. Number of whorls and mean diameter of living branches were the best predictors of the proportion of VKN for lodgepole pine and Scots pine, respectively. Accordingly, morphometric parameters might be useful for the selection of the best trees of lodgepole pine.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur L Fredeen ◽  
Jeanne A Horning ◽  
Robert W Madill

Neither the relationship between the chirality of spiral phyllotaxis and spiral wood grain nor the cause or ontogeny of such a relationship has been examined previously. To this end, chirality of the spiral in phyllotaxis of needle fascicles and cone scales were contrasted with wood-grain spiral in seedlings, young, and mature trees of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) in central British Columbia. To assess chirality of phyllotaxis, the relationship between numbers of contact parastichies and chirality of phyllotaxis in scales on cones and needle fascicles on branchlets was determined. Three or 8 clockwise acropetal contact parastichies were indicative of a clockwise generative spiral, while totals of 2, 5, or 13 clockwise acropetal parastichies were indicative of a counter-clockwise generative spiral. Lodgepole pine trees were nearly always chimeric, i.e., having clockwise and counter-clockwise phyllotaxis on the same individual, but there was a high overall correspondence between the chirality of phyllotaxis in cone scales and subtending needle fascicles. Seedlings (<1.5 years old) had no measurable wood-grain angle and clockwise and counter-clockwise phyllotaxis occurred in equal proportions. However, young trees (13–15 years since planting) had a pronounced clockwise bias to their wood-grain spiral in contrast with a counter-clockwise bias in phyllotaxis. In contrast, mature trees ([Formula: see text]100 years old) had the reverse trend and exhibited a counter-clockwise bias in wood-grain spiral but a clockwise bias in phyllotaxis. A model is proposed to explain how chirality of spiral wood grain could generate an inverse bias in the chirality of phyllotaxis in lodgepole pine.Key words: lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, phyllotaxis, generative spiral, Fibonacci numbers, spiral wood grain.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean L. Heineman ◽  
Suzanne W. Simard ◽  
Donald L. Sachs ◽  
W. Jean Mather

Abstract Manual cutting treatments are routinely applied to release lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) from trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) competition in southern interior British Columbia. We studied the effects of this treatment on pine and an aspen-dominated community on three sites in the Interior Douglas-Fir and Montane Spruce biogeoclimatic zones. After 10 years, when stands were 17–20 years old, treated aspen was significantly shorter than control aspen, and treated pine had significantly (21%) larger diameter than control pine. There were few other differences between brushed and unbrushed pine, and survival was excellent (≥97%), regardless of treatment. Brushing nearly doubled the average density of conifer stems that were free-growing according to legislated standards, but results were variable, and the free-growing status of the stand was changed on only one site. Regression analysis was used to examine the correlation between aspen abundance and pine size. The density of aspen at least as tall as the pine (tall aspen) predicted 36.2% of the variation in pine diameter, and total aspen density predicted 35.9% of the variation in pine height. An average density threshold of 1,867 tall aspen stems/ha, above which pine stem diameter declined, was identified in the three stands.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 2403-2412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Kashian ◽  
Rebecca M. Jackson ◽  
Heather D. Lyons

Extensive outbreaks of the mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) will alter the structure of many stands that will likely be attacked again before experiencing a stand-replacing fire. We examined a stand of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson) in Grand Teton National Park currently experiencing a moderate-level outbreak and previously attacked by mountain pine beetle in the 1960s. Consistent with published studies, tree diameter was the main predictor of beetle attack on a given tree, large trees were preferentially attacked, and tree vigor, age, and cone production were unimportant variables for beetle attack at epidemic levels. Small trees killed in the stand were killed based mainly on their proximity to large trees and were likely spatially aggregated with large trees as a result of the previous outbreak. We concluded that the driving factors of beetle attack and their spatial patterns are consistent across outbreak severities but that stand structure altered by the previous outbreak had implications for the current outbreaks in the same location. This study should catalyze additional research that examines how beetle-altered stand structure affects future outbreaks — an important priority for predicting their impacts under climate change scenarios that project increases in outbreak frequency and extent.


IAWA Journal ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-267
Author(s):  
Alex C. Wiedenhoeft ◽  
Regis B. Miller ◽  
Terra J. Theim

Three microscopic characters were evaluated for the identification of Pinus contorta and Pinus ponderosa. The tangential diameter of the resin canals, including the epithelium, was compared to the tangential diameter of the entire resin canal complex. The latter measurement was shown to give diagnostic results for these species. Data from the examination of ray composition do not support previously published methods for separating P. contorta and P. ponderosa. The presence or absence of small elongate crystals in the subsidiary parenchyma of the resin canal complexes was shown to be the most powerful diagnostic character for separating the wood of these species.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1314-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter V Blenis ◽  
Wuhan Li

Infection of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) by western gall rust has been shown to decrease with tree height and age, but the effects of those two factors have not been separated. Five replicate artificial inoculations were done on a total of 327 trees of different ages in two height classes. Temperature and percentage of spore germination at the height of inoculation, shoot development (stem elongation at the time of inoculation as a proportion of final shoot elongation), main stem leader length at the time of inoculation, tree height, and tree age were measured. Modeled percentages of infected trees and the number of galls per 10 cm of shoot length decreased by 85% and 88%, respectively, as tree age increased between 2 and 10 years, indicating the undesirability of early, aggressive precommercial thinning of lodgepole pine stands in areas where western gall rust is common. By controlling and (or) statistically accounting for inoculum, microclimate, and phenological factors, it was possible to demonstrate that changes in susceptibility with tree age are sufficient to account for the reduction in infection with tree height.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. H. SMITHWICK ◽  
M. G. RYAN ◽  
D. M. KASHIAN ◽  
W. H. ROMME ◽  
D. B. TINKER ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 2368-2371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith N. Egger ◽  
J. W. Paden

Forty isolates of postfire ascomycetes (Pezizales) were tested for in vitro pathogenicity on seeds and germinants of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Dougl. Two known pathogens, Caloscypha fulgens (Pers.) Boud. and Botrytis cinerea Pers., were included as a check of the method. Caloscypha fulgens was the only fungus that caused serious declines in seed germination, although several species of postfire Pezizales were capable of preemergence seed infection. Rhizina undulata Fr. and Pyropyxis rubra (Peck) Egger were strongly pathogenic on germinants. Pyropyxis rubra was not previously known to be pathogenic. Many isolates were weakly pathogenic on germinants under the conditions tested.


2014 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam ◽  
Mika Nieminen ◽  
Connie O’Driscoll ◽  
Mark O’Connor ◽  
Sakari Sarkkola ◽  
...  

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