This may be a dumb question but...
Most descriptions I see for palm trees say that they can reach a certain height, i.e. 60 ft for Washingtonia Fiilfera or whatever.. Does a palm's growth rate slow down or stop once it reaches a certain height? Or are the heights given just estimations based on observations?
This message was edited Oct 26, 2005 10:01 AM
Do palms ever stop getting taller?
I am no expert by any means, but I think that it has to do with the particular plant's water pumping system. A plant gets as high as it can push the sap/nutrients/water up. Kind of how apartment buildings were limited a bit by how good water pressure in the area is. Now people just add more pumps to pump it higher, however a plant's is based at it's roots so if it can push up the nutrients it will continue to grow.
Now, if a plant is said to grow 40' to 60', then it would be determined by wind, available nutrients during growth, how much exposure to sun it got, temperature and ultimately by the strength of it's root system. Many plants have a general height they will grow to and they are as different as people. What makes one plant grow leggy and scrawny may make another bushy and short...
That being said, I may be completely wrong. But it sure does sound like a good theory, no? This is all MHO, so if I am wrong, I sure do apologize and am woman enough to learn a lesson (albeit the hard way). I just hope word does not get out that I am a complete idiot and better off trying to grow rocks... If nothing else, laugh!
Sounds right to me. Genetics will play a large role in most species and forms. Situation is key as well most really really tall plants are either in a sheltered area or growing in a forest streaching for light. In most cases if its extremely tall its usually slow growing and woody. Thier is one tree I cannot think of the scientific name at the moment but is called a false tree fern. It can grow to 100 ft in 3 years with some of the largest leaf brackets in the world. When it blooms in south america it produces a huge bracket of yellow flowers. I have seen photos from the air with the forest and these large trees flowering through out. Seeds are fairly easy to get and its not hard to sprout. But it does grow fast and likes it warm.
But to answer your question: palms continue to grow until they die. That ultimate height may be due to the physical limitations preset by its genetics, along with the environmental influences... but palms don't just stop growing once they reach a certain height. I am not aware of how non-palms grow, but don't all trees continue to grow? Maybe other trees, once they get large enough, branches fall off or die, and the overall height doesn't change... but palms don't have that option... it'd grow or perish.