Check out the link. An interesting experiment.
Patch up for ancient kauri tree damaged in storm | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz Quote:
Patch up for king of the forest
Jul 29, 2007 7:32 PM
Forest workers have mounted a daring attempt to breath new life into an ancient Northland kauri badly damaged in storms earlier this month.
A wind gust is believed to have ripped out a rata tree growing from the trunk of te matua ngahere in the Waipoua Forest. And it has left the host tree, that could be up to 3000 years old, exposed to disease.
Stephen King from the Waipoua Forest Trust was more than happy to rise to the occasion and check out the gaping wound at a height of 30 metres.
The gouge left when the rata was torn from the kauri trunk means the tree is exposed to disease and rot and King's task also involved patching up the hole.
In an experiment similar to what would happen with a burn victim, healthy flesh from the tree was grafted onto the wound.
"The bark is very thick so I have to peel back to the bark and shave back the bark until it is thinner...if we can put life into here, some green shoots for him to feed, it will keep this part of the tree alive for longer," says King.
In a few months all eyes will be searching for new growth and if the shoots take it could add centuries to an already long life.
|