The leaves are falling here in England too. All at once, with the first
frosts of the winter this last fortnight.
Under our Wallnut trees (Juglans regia) I find there is no moss growing
amongst the cobbles until outside the leaf-drip zone where a healthy carp=
et
of moss has grown. I doubt whether this is due to lack of light (the
lowest branches are 10 ft up), I suspect that the amount of moisture is n=
ot
very different either. I have observed this under Holly (Ilex aquifolium=
)
too, where Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) do not grow under the tree=
until clear of the leaf-drip. Aconites do however grow under a Beech tre=
e
(Fagus sylvatica).
Is this a well known fact, if so what is the explanation. Otherwise, wha=
t
do you think? Are there inhibitory chemicals in the water dripping off
SOME leaves?
_________________________________________________________________
| Dr. John Hewitson |
| Berrystead Barn +44 (0)1832 272 209 phone/fax |
| Oundle, |
| Peterborough, PE8 4DY, UK. e-mail John_Hewitson at compuserve.com |
|_________________________________________________________________|
