Ed-
With no measuring apparatus other than my eye for heights, I have walked among many of the redwoods, particularly along the Avenue of the Giants and seen the poison oak climb out of sight...in the fall, with color change, only dogwoods climbing up lush drainages along the Smith River in SW Oregon climb higher, turn redder. They're a spectacular sight, with many 'centipedal' "root hairs" extending horizontally to each side seeking better anchor for the vines.
Have just purchased and am reading BVP's Forest Giants, and while I haven't seen the latest tallest, I sure have seen what used to be...the best is not yet to come, the best have already gone to the mill, or fell short of that demise...
I will be travelling to California this Fall, but I'm afraid my focus will be on the Mixed Conifer Zone in the Central/Northern Sierras. I haven't seen many gnarly vines there in prior visits.
-Don
From: edfr...@comcast.net
To: WNTS@googlegroups.com
Subject: [WNTS] Big Vines
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 23:07:23 -0400
Mario, WNTS,
M Vaden, from the Pacific Northwest has a couple of webpages with photos
about Poison oak
http://www.mdvaden.com/album_Poison-oak.shtml
http://www.mdvaden.com/poison_oak.shtml
He notes: "As a shrub form, poison-oak can be as tall as a small vine maple.
As a vine, poison oak can grow over 150 high, and may not have lower stems or
leaves. Few vines with smooth bark grow on Pacific NW trees."
Some of his photos include: (caption) Found this cut poison-oak vine on
a fallen tree. Almost 70 growth rings: near 2" in diameter.and (caption) Huge
poison oak. 4" diameter trunk: Near 160' tall. This is on Hiouchi Trail:
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?p=70998
Not far from Grove of Titans on Hiouchi Trail is a steroids poison-oak near
180' tall with 3" trunk - like a giant Anaconda on a redwood. I estimate 180
years age for that vine. http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml
I am wondering if you or other members of WNTS have other examples of
exceptional vines that you can report. Surely with the worlds tallest
trees, you have a shot at the worlds tallest vines as well.
Ed Frank
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