Burning Washingtonia

[wtrskiscout]

Does anyone on here have any experience with torching the petticoat on mature Washingtonia robusta?

In this area (NorCal) I know that when I was in high school it was a bit of a novelty for kids who were out in the countryside drinking to light the dried petticoat on a Washingtonia to watch the spectacle.

It does produce quite a sight to see a 50-60 ft tall palm in full flaming glory at night.

It is sort of like watching a really big Roman Candle.

Interestingly enough, this never seemed to damage the palms permanently.  They always grow back.

Does anyone else have experiences like this?

[Ken Johnson]

I know a guy that almost burned down his house doing it. yes.

[Tess]

I was in Palm Canyon, Plam Springs several years ago on the Agua Caliente Reservation, and noted that many of the mature Washy filifera had scorched trunks.  Some were quite toasted.

The guide said that Native Americans would intentially light the trunks on fire to aid growth.  I always wondered if this actually helped the tree.  They definitely can endure it as, all seemed to be in good health.

[_Keith]

Actually,one of my neighbors accidently lit my other neighbors palms on fire, but that is a whole other story.  

Bottomline is now, nearly two years later, I will tell you that those large palms look better than ever, far healthier than before.  I think it rejuvenated them.

[gsn]

Some species require/like  fire to be strong and healthy.

Serenoa repens  depends on fire to rejuvinate them.

Also helps with  seed production,and germination.

[Tad]

i seriously doubt the "native" americans ever lit them on fire to "aid" in growth, they may have done it to torch bats,rats,and birds out for a quick and easy meal, but the concept of them walking by and thinking hmmm we better burn these so they grow better is a little difficult for me to grasp, I just didnt know that way back when they were such good stewards of the land.

[gsn]

Tad,

Not to get into an argument,and mind you I am not saying the native americans did this intentionally for the health of the tree.

But I think I would have to disaggre about native Americans not being  good of stewards of the land.

I think in gerneral WAY BACK WHEN, people were way more in touch with the land,and took better care of it than we do NOW!

Just my 2 cents

[Tad]

scott, the trees may have benefeited from the burning, I seriously doubt they did it solely for the benefit of the tree, there were more than likely other motives, like scorching a meal or making it easier to get to seeds etc... but I really do doubt that chief 2 skunks sent out a memo reminding all the tribesman that the washies are looking a bit skirty and its making the neighborhood look bad guys, so smokem if you gottem.

as for them being good stewards of the land thats up to interpratation, nomad type tribes hung around and depleted an area of all it had to offer then moved on to greener pastures, they also were guilty of slash and burn agriculture,hunted animals to extinction, under the odd premise of each animal killed would return 10 fold, some of the moder arapahoe and shoshone have hunted their areas to the point of exhasution of animals.

so in short, no they were not alays the good stewards of the land that modern day enviromentalists would have you belive, look at the the mescalero indians who are trying to obtain a permit to store nuclear waste, or the group in socal who want or maybe got, i have quit watching that one a landfill., as native inhabitants are concerned not just our indians but look at the easter island gang, they were such poor stewards they damn near extincted themselves.

most native peoples had no concept of anything further than where they roamed,

the anasazi stayed in one place for less than a generation, when the area was deplete they moved on,

I am not saying all indians were bad stewards, I am saying some of them were and just like all people some made good choices and some were not such good stewards of the land.

[madagascarbob]

Probably something to do when tripping on peyote . Are we supposed to be talking about this ?

[FRITO]

id like to see a video clip of this.

[madagascarbob]

[DoomsDave]

Mad-bob:

"Burn baby burn!"

Ahem.

Everyone:

Boy, I hate to be the carmudgeon.  Except when you get to be catty!  Like now.

Hey, dude, like, let's set a Washie on fire, aw haw haw haw haw haw, hee hee hee [slaps knee]/

Uh, hey, er, dude, how about, insert an H-100 [up, down, into, etc.] the [bodily opening of choice] and light it!

Har har har.

I know, yes, yes, I was a kid once, and a "young adult" aka oversize kid, after that, God help the world!  But, it's past, and carmudgeonhood beckons, from an ever-decreasing distance.

Washies can really really burn, as Mad-Bob's vid demonstrates.

They make great kindling in the fireplace!  How do you think I know?

One palm, burning, well, it gets hot, but it makes it.

A bunch, burning together, and the ones in the center, the water in their tissues boils, and they melt.

Does fire help their growth?  Honesty, I say no.  That hell-fire just burns all else near, and annihilates the competetion.  

Oomph, down off soapbox, dang, tore my pants . . . .

[PALM MOD]

This thread is about the burning of Washingtonias, not about the environmental proclivities of certain ethnic groups.

Please stay on topic, and away from political commentary.

[Tad]

i think burning them is a stupid idea, washies in my opinion are not rejuvinated by burning , i think things must be pretty boring in lard california that you would burn palms for entertainment.

[Kris]

Dear Richard Korby  

even i was about to ask the same thing what my friend luke was saying ! but that video link clearly gave me an idea.what will be the condition of our house,if any nutty huligan tourches my washy during a deepawali firewworks festival !

thanks richard,it really made me think !

lots of love,

Kris  

[madagascarbob]

Someone torched one at our first apartment 23 years ago .We were about 50 yards from it and we couldnt get near our window because of the heat .

[Kris]

(madagascarbob @ Mar. 09 2008,11:20)

QUOTE

Someone torched one at our first apartment 23 years ago .We were about 50 yards from it and we couldnt get near our window because of the heat .

then i have to pray that such kind of things don't happen to my washies..

thanks for the info !

lots of love,

Kris  

[FRITO]

bob thanks for the link. pretty intense fire.

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

 A couple years ago across the road had some

Silly idea that they'd burn there Livistona decipiens,

Lazy and could'nt be bothered trimming.

Real bad move Fire fighters have much more important fires and things to do than save someones Fence.     (In the wild these things happen)

but should'nt around homes....

Regards To all

Mikey.

[DoomsDave]

(madagascarbob @ Mar. 09 2008,11:20)

QUOTE

Someone torched one at our first apartment 23 years ago .We were about 50 yards from it and we couldnt get near our window because of the heat .

Oh, yeah.

I'd feel seriously sorry for anyone trapped in burning washie leaves.

They light off with a single match, then roar into flames, good heavens, almost like they've been soaked in gasoline.

Two or three of them, cut to size, will light nice dry fireplaces logs all by themselves.

The petioles burn REALLY hot.

[Al in Kona]

Kris, no need to worry about fire if you just keep the Washingtona robusta trimmed of dead leaves until it gets tall enough and most of them then seem to self trim.  IMO, tall Washies with a clean trunk can be quite attractive.

[Kris]

thanks very much Dear Al,but i will be growing only washy filifera's on the ground...iam not much into these robustas sp.

lots of love,

Kris