Root Mounds

[Tomsky]

In some palms as they get old, the roots push through and tear the bottom of the trunk, forming a root mound. When fully formed, they give the impression that the palm is standing atop and is anchored by the root mound. Here are a few photos of root mounds or the beginnings of root mounds.

Jack

Washingtonia robusta

Lytocaryum weddelianum

[Tomsky]

Phoenix roebelenii x reclinata

[Tomsky]

Washingtonia hybrid

[Tomsky]

Brahea edulis

[Tomsky]

Phoenix robusta

[Tomsky]

Brahea brandegii

[Tomsky]

Phoenix reclinata

[Tomsky]

Phoenix roebelenii (clumping)

[paulgila]

not exactly the most "glamorous" part of a palm,is it?

[Tomsky]

not exactly the most "glamorous" part of a palm,is it?

When my daughter was visiting us recently, I showed off the palms. She was horrified at the bottoms of these palms and asked, "what's that?" I told her that those are the root mounds.

Jack

[LJG]

That has to be the fatest Lytocaryum weddelianum trunk I have ever seen.

[Tomsky]

That has to be the fatest Lytocaryum weddelianum trunk I have ever seen.

Len, I got it from Diegaard in 1970 when it was called Syagrus weddelianum. I planted it under a lathe facing the south side. It gets warmth without direct sun and is somewhat protected from the cold. It is now brushing against the top. I thought of removing the panels to give it more room, but it might be too exposed.

Jack

[Tomsky]

The fruit.

[chris.oz]

Jack,

I enjoy your posts. Seems like you are long time palm afficionado.

One area thats a bit of a mystery to me is the area below the ground. If a palm dies, the base is usually diseased or damaged, so its not often we have a chance to examine the base intact. Even if we do, its quite often just an impenetrable mass of roots.

I used to visualise the root development area of a palm as a flat plate at the base.

Now I see it differently. In some palms I have observed the root development zone forming as an inverted cone, increasing in diameter until the palm trunks.

In some palms, as soon as the trunk forms the root growth plate stops increasing in area.

In others it seems like that root growth zone continues part way up the "trunk" maybe this is an illusion and its just the fact that the leaf nodes are very close together at the base.

In other cases it looks like a root just busts out of the trunk between leaf nodes.

IMO The most elegant expression of this "root mound"are in Verschaffeltia splendida the most powerful is in Socratea exorhiza but perhaps the least attractive is P. canariensis.

I wonder how many palms have the ability to do this, given the right type of hormone applied at the leaf nodes?

[Jim in Los Altos]

I've witnessed this phenomenon in some of my Washingtonias, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Phoenix reclinata, canariensis, and roebelenii. Mounding soil up to and around those root mounds creates a new place for root expansion. Within weeks the new soil is filled with new palm roots and, I believe, a more robust palm is the result.

[gsn]

I've witnessed this phenomenon in some of my Washingtonias, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Phoenix reclinata, canariensis, and roebelenii. Mounding soil up to and around those root mounds creates a new place for root expansion. Within weeks the new soil is filled with new palm roots and, I believe, a more robust palm is the result.

I agree,but even if it doesn't create a healthier,more robust palm, it sure would look alot better IMHO!

Paul said it, and I concur, not the most attractive part of a palm.

Edited July 22, 2008 by gsn

[Jim in Los Altos]

I've witnessed this phenomenon in some of my Washingtonias, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Phoenix reclinata, canariensis, and roebelenii. Mounding soil up to and around those root mounds creates a new place for root expansion. Within weeks the new soil is filled with new palm roots and, I believe, a more robust palm is the result.

I agree,but even if it doesn't create a healthier,more robust palm, it sure would look alot better IMHO!

Paul said it, and I concur, not the most attractive part of a palm.

I agree. When I finished mounding around my palm's homely root mounds, I was able to plant mosses and other ground covers on the mounds and the new look is incomparable to the old root mound look.

[pogobob]

I have found that when soil with mulch is piled up around root mounds, the palms respond by activating these dormant root masses in to the added soil and the palms switch gears and explode with added vigor! Anyone else notice this phenominome? It only makes sense cuz in their natural environment their dropped leaves drop and pile up under and around and the roots grow into the mass. Wadda ya think all you einstiens? Try it and see the results...Bob

[paulgila]

bob,i think the plural of "einstein" is actually "einstones."

please make a note of it.

[LJG]

Jack, that is impressive. You got that palm the year I was born!

[Kris]

Dear Jack

lovely stills and even i had seen in our old royals & coconut trees here in our garden...i love it ! since it shows the perferomance of that healthy palm...

recently meg had posted few stills of CIDP's trunking busting making way for more roots to pop out...as seen in a parking lot of a shopping mall.

thanks for those lovely stills...

lots of love,

Kris

here are few stills of a hybrid date palm near the place of work ! i cross this palm daily...

Here is a close-up of the same !

here is the still of that Palm,which fruits without seeds...

Crown close-up !

And by the way this date palm has never clumped in its life time ? And i wanted to grow this palm as a substitute for the CIDP's which i had no accesses then...