10 January 2011

KHAYA SENEGALENSIS

These are the cut ends of the branches of the Khaya senegalensis trees that I posted recently. I was also looking at the surface roots of 2 of these trees.

The compression root and tension root of these 2 trees are quite apparent and I was taught that these roots and the respective compression wood and tension wood grew in response to stress factors e.g. wind from a prevailing direction, to stabilize the trees.

If one of these roots is cut, which tree would be in greater danger of collapsing? The tension root plays a more important part in anchoring the tree, so if it is severed, then the particular tree with this root would likely topple over more easily than the one with the compression root.