Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Longleaf: An Amazing Tree

The mountain longleaf is a tree that I would call a survivor.  It has always amazed me at how these trees can grow on top of a rock.  I made this picture a few weeks back along an old road bed while turkey hunting in the Talladega National Forest.  Notice how the butt of the tree has spread out to support this tree that is near 100 foot in height. The roots just twist and turn to force themselves down through the rock.  
As a two year old tree we use prescribed fire in a stand to help in the growth of these trees.  They can survive fire and they thrive with fire.  These trees have evolved into a species that nature has prepared for the environment they live in.  
Their history is a great story to learn!