Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Wyden fields questions during Medford town hall meeting ... Spieth, amateur Dunne eyeing history at St. Andrews ... Our View: Court issues civics lesson to school district ... Wyden fields questions during Medford town hall meeting ... Spieth, amateur Dunne eyeing history at St. Andrews ... Our View: Court issues civics lesson to school district ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Trees' summer shed adds crunch to your step MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> We're somewhat new to the Rogue Valley and really enjoy all the fine hiking trails here. During our recent hikes we've noticed these certain trees that are peeling their bar off like mad. My neighbor says these are madrones or manzanitas but no one I've asked has given me a decent explanation for why their bark peels like that. Can you? — M.M., Medford   Well, M.M., the short and snarky answer is that madrone are something of a skittish and self-conscious type of tree that simply aren't comfortable in their own skins. Or that they're somewhat reptilian and wiggle out of their skins while growing. Truth is, M.M., what you are witnessing is one of the gems of the woods here, albeit a somewhat messy one. Madrones shed their reddish exterior bark each summer as they grow a new layer of green bark beneath it. The new growth then takes over for the old bark. There's speculation that the fresh green bark helps with photosynthesis, but no one knows for sure. The peeling — or exfoliating, as scientists call it — might also help get rid of bark-borne parasites such as lichens. Smaller madrones will shed their bark virtually to their base, while older ones don't shed as much. It's in the peak of the shedding now, with area trails littered with swaths of peeled madrone bark. As for manzanitas, those are a close bushy cousin to the madrone and they, too, can be bark-shedders for the same reasons. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 17, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501