The only live part of a tree’s branch or trunk is the outermost ring, called the cambium. All of the other wood in that branch/trunk is dead wood…just there for support. You can have a tree with a large, healthy crop of leaves, and it be hollow. You can also have a dead tree devoid of leaves, but the inner wood is solid.
Deviljobob
Because that is a box elder (aka false ash, aka Manitoba maple) and these things are stupid resilient
IntroductionNaive773
The old wood on the interior is completely composed of dead material that is only providing structural support. Only the outer layers of a tree are actually alive, and as long as they aren’t attacked by a pathogen the tree will appear fully healthy even as its “bones” rot away from wood decomposing fungus. Though eventually the trees structural integrity will be compromised as weight increases and support decreases, but that can take decades.
reddit33450
the only part of a tree that is needed for survival is the outer layers of the tree, under the bark, where nutrients travel. the inner wood is dead and purely structural
pukeface555
I ask the same question about myself every day.
Wise_Comfortable_587
Because nature is cool as hell
JesseGarron
That’s a good looking shed.
validproof
I had something similar happen to some cotton wood trees. Carpenter ants had dug it hollow and had inhabited it. When I cut them down with a chain saw, lots of disgusting old rainwater came gushing out because it had gone down the hole and pooled up.
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The only live part of a tree’s branch or trunk is the outermost ring, called the cambium. All of the other wood in that branch/trunk is dead wood…just there for support. You can have a tree with a large, healthy crop of leaves, and it be hollow. You can also have a dead tree devoid of leaves, but the inner wood is solid.
Because that is a box elder (aka false ash, aka Manitoba maple) and these things are stupid resilient
The old wood on the interior is completely composed of dead material that is only providing structural support. Only the outer layers of a tree are actually alive, and as long as they aren’t attacked by a pathogen the tree will appear fully healthy even as its “bones” rot away from wood decomposing fungus. Though eventually the trees structural integrity will be compromised as weight increases and support decreases, but that can take decades.
the only part of a tree that is needed for survival is the outer layers of the tree, under the bark, where nutrients travel. the inner wood is dead and purely structural
I ask the same question about myself every day.
Because nature is cool as hell
That’s a good looking shed.
I had something similar happen to some cotton wood trees. Carpenter ants had dug it hollow and had inhabited it. When I cut them down with a chain saw, lots of disgusting old rainwater came gushing out because it had gone down the hole and pooled up.