Posted on 11/02/2015 11:36:43 AM PST by Red Badger
A British tree thought to be up to 5,000 years old has started to change sex, a "rare and unusual" phenomenon not fully understood by scientists, a botanist said Monday.
The Fortingall Yew, in Perthshire, central Scotland has for hundreds of years been recorded as male, but has recently begun sprouting berries, suggesting that at least part of the tree is changing gender.
"It's a rare occurence ... rare and unusual and not fully understood," said Max Coleman of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who spotted the berries.
"It's thought that there's a shift in the balance of hormone-like compounds that will cause this sex-change. One of the things that might be triggering it is environmental stress."
However, the tree appears healthy, Coleman said, adding that it would now be closely observed for further changes.
The gnarled tree is situated in an old church yard, and is difficult to age because its heartwoodâthe wood in the centre of the treeâhas long rotted away.
Scientists have been able to estimate by comparing its current size with measurements taken in the 1700s.
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FINALLY! Something funny from you...
Maybe its a Kard-ASH-ian Tree!...............
Only the sound of a wood chipper........................
The Scotsman
From: A Faire To Remember
words and music by Mike Cross
Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar on evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
About that time two young and lovely girls just happend by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it’s true what they don’t wear beneath the kilt
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it’s true what they don’t wear beneath the kilt
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to see, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let’s leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Now the Scotsman woke to nature’s call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lift his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what’s before his eyes.
O lad I don’t know where you been but I see you won first prize
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don’t know where you been but I see you won first prize
...If a wood chipper could chip wood.
thanks
I will DEFINITELY let others respond to THAT! ha!
(we have one here on FR in particular, just wait to see his response!)
ha!
Nah you have to get the lingo right
twigs and berries
Got to be hormonal, I notice a lot of gentlemen exhibit somewhat feminine behaviours as they age, resembling female traits; like fussiness and whinging about minor issues. Ouch!
The Fortingall Yew, also known as the F Yew . . .
I doubt Jenner still has his “woody”.
New climate hoax - Global Tree Sex Changing.
When studying the Yew tree and its supposed sex change, did the scientists ask the key question, “Is it Yew or is it he”?
Singing “Knowing me, knowing you” (in the biblical sense, of course). ABBA
Madness or stupidity. Or both. Trees are not people. Looking for confirmation of human tendencies in trees is not science at all, but wishful thinking.
“WTF is going on in this world???”
I dunno. But if you figure it out, please FReepmail me.
I wonderif they’re going to throw it an anniversary party or will they be too persimmonius to foot the bill?
Heh!
Yeah... I know...
My sense of humor has been lacking lately.
Well, it was reading that old book, “A Tree Blows In Brooklyn”, and it just up and decided ... nah... never mind..
I have a solution to what’s going on. I think you know what it is.
Really. You went from bad to worse.
:)
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