This is my first thought. That would be one boring battle, even much worse than watching paint dry. LOL
Welcome to the forum. I have no idea what that tree is or what caused it to grow like that but I know I'd never cut that tree down. To unique to turn into firewood.
Hey stihl kicking. Welcome to the Club. You have started out with something very interesting! I agree with yooperdave that this tree may be owned by Lowes or Home depot. Next time you are in the area check carefully around the base of the trunk to see if there is a "Plus Tree" placard nailed to it. This will identify the owner (probably Lowes or possibly a canoe manufacturer), the species (probably an Eastern Ridged Torque Maple) and its various plus attributes like good height, wide base, pitch of the ridges in the trunk and twist right or lefthand. Trees like this are spared in logging so they can be used in breeding to produce unique framing lumber in the future.
Thank you very much! It is unique, and it's on government land, so I doubt it ever comes down, except through old age.
Thank you, for the welcome! I'm not sure what to make of your reply, you sound so sincere, yet (I think) with a dry sense of humor. LOL As far as being new and starting off with something very interesting.. I know right! I might as well quit now, cause I'll probably never top it!
To everyone that welcomed me to the forum, thank you very much! I've read through here off and on throughout the winter, and this is a great group! I know I can learn here and hopefully contribute something along the way as well. An update on this tree. I did get in touch with a forester for the Corp of Engineers about this tree (this is on Corps land). I talked to him on the phone to start, I think when I mentioned I found a tree that looks like it was screwed into the ground, he was pretty much ready to move on.. I can only imagine what he was thinking. LOL Actually him and I know each other, but I had no idea he was also a forester. But as I described the tree to him, he grew more interested and said to send him the pic. So I did, now I'm curious what he has to say.
Hey stihl kicking, You sound like really nice guy and I'm sure you will get along great here and have lots of fun and learn a lot! Looking for more of your posts and lots of pictures. Again, welcome!
That is a super weird tree you have there! We actually see quite a bit of this here in the west, in all kinds of species. I'm afraid no one will have a definitive answer. From the Bristlecone Pines Spiral Project: Nobody seems to understand spiral grain in bristlecone pines, or in any other tree species for that matter. (Spiral grain is not limited to bristlecones.) There are a number of hypotheses that get repeated: It’s “just genetics” – spiral grain confers no particular advantage to the tree, and is not caused by environmental factors. Sort of like handedness in humans. Then spiral grain should not correlate with environmental factors. Spiral grain makes the trunk stronger and more resistant to breakage. If that were so, we would expect to find proportionally more dead and/or broken tree trunks that are straight, and more living/unbroken trees that are twisted. Just as sunflowers track the sun’s daily progress across the sky, so do trees. This causes spiral grain. The twisting should be left-handed. Trees with views of the western and eastern horizons blocked by ridges should exhibit less spiral grain. Southern hemisphere trees should spiral the opposite way. Torque from prevailing winds: Since there is more foliage on the sunny (south) side of the tree, the prevailing (westerly) winds push on that foliage and twist the tree. The spiral grain should be right handed. Sheltered trees should exhibit less spiral grain. Spiral grain helps distribute water from the roots evenly around the crown of the tree. Then maybe trees in asymmetrical environments (on steep slopes or near streams) should exhibit more spiral grain? Coriolis effect: We do not believe that the Coriolis effect could cause spiral grain in tree trunks, but if it did the twisting would be left handed, and southern hemisphere trees would be the opposite. Spiral grain relieves growth stresses during cell division. Then wouldn’t all the of the trees exhibit spiral grain? Why are most of them straight? This is a Bristlecone Pine. Here's a Madrone (Arbutus) from the PNW. Another Pine, but turning the opposite way. And what I believe is a Monterey Cypress: Last one, since you mentioned hurricane - I found this online. Thanks for a very interesting question, and welcome to FHC!
Thanks Buzz, I have a feeling you're right about there not being a definitive answer. It's probably just an interesting oddity of nature, one that's unfolded for decades. I wonder who else has taken the time to notice and appreciate this tree over the years, it's just out in the middle of the woods with no fanfare. I'm hoping the forester wants to take a look at it in person, and I can show him where it is and see his reaction and thought process. Your Bristlecone Pine Project is very interesting, very well researched and thought out. I've said it a hundred times, this planet fascinates me!
There is a second part to this story, which I haven't mentioned yet. Not more than a 100 feet from the odd tree is this Elm with burls, which is interesting itself. We've known about it for a few years, we like to take the grand kids on hikes to it. They like to climb onto the burl and stand on it, and it's a great place to get pics of them. I did mention this tree to the forester also. Here's a pic of it. I wonder how much money those burls are worth?
All kidding aside, I would have the twisted tree milled into lumber. The burls are worth some money too!!!! Welcome to the site!
Thank you for the welcome! I bet that twisted tree would make some very interesting lumber, I wonder what the grain looks like on the inside. Even if that tree was mine, I'd have to let it live till it couldn't, then maybe consider the mill. Now that I know it's there, I'm looking forward to showing it to friends, grabbing a beer and saying let's take a walk, without telling them about it. Just showing up and say check that out! LOL Thank you for the welcome Canadian border VT!
