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bardofely
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Location: Playa San Marcos, Tenerife
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 Post subject: 1 blotch of green paint on palm trunks - what does it mean? |
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I have often noticed that some types of palm trees have one conspicuous daubing of green paint on a leaf scar on the trunk. Only one!
I believe the green paint is also used a sealant for tree surgery because I have seen it used that way, which makes sense. However, I cannot think why whoever is in charge of tending to the trees in public spaces puts one green blotch of paint on the trunks.
It is done all around the island.
The best I have come up with is it is to mark out the Canarian Date palms but that theory can't be right because I have seen it on other types too but only those in the date palm family!
Does anybody know what this green daubing is for?
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Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:53 pm
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funky
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Its called 'Blazing' in Active Forestry Management circles. I understand that in English Forests, green paint is typically used to denote trees that are to be saved or not to be cut. Red or Orange usually signifies trees that are scheduled for removal/regeneration programmes.
Not sure if its the same here though...? 
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:43 pm
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bardofely
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| funky wrote: | Its called 'Blazing' in Active Forestry Management circles. I understand that in English Forests, green paint is typically used to denote trees that are to be saved or not to be cut. Red or Orange usually signifies trees that are scheduled for removal/regeneration programmes.
Not sure if its the same here though...? |
Thanks, Funky! That makes sense because the ones I have seen it on are mainly Canary Date Palms, which are supposed to be a protected species!
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:05 pm
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funky
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You're welcome Bard. I'm not exactly a tree or forestry expert, but I remember the colour scheme from watching a documentary on English forestry.
I think its odd that someone can cut down other types of palm tree that might be equally old and stunning and yet only the canarian variety is protected. Are they that rare or endangered, as they seem to be everywhere. And are they not grown elsewhere other than in the Canaries?
Perhaps if they spread them around the world a bit more, they wouldn't need protection? After all, most palms grow well in a variety of climatic conditions and I would have thought that very few are actually at risk of extinction.
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:40 pm
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bardofely
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| funky wrote: | You're welcome Bard. I'm not exactly a tree or forestry expert, but I remember the colour scheme from watching a documentary on English forestry.
I think its odd that someone can cut down other types of palm tree that might be equally old and stunning and yet only the canarian variety is protected. Are they that rare or endangered, as they seem to be everywhere. And are they not grown elsewhere other than in the Canaries?
Perhaps if they spread them around the world a bit more, they wouldn't need protection? After all, most palms grow well in a variety of climatic conditions and I would have thought that very few are actually at risk of extinction. |
The situation is that they once grew in far greater numbers in the wild here as did the Dragon Trees but a new threat to them is hybridisation with related species such as the Date Palm, which weakens the gene pool of pure Canary Palm stock. There are people who are in favour of banning Date Palms from the island and removing the ones that are here already. I can see the logic behind this.
In other countries the Canary Date Palm has done so well it is regarded as an invasive pest in some places like Australia where it has self-seeded.
A weevil has also been reported to be killing trees, which is yet another threat here.
I have found that all the palms germinate easily from seeds and I have quite a few in pots on my balcony. I think it is a great shame that the majority are swept up and thrown away. Much of the waste ground in Tenerife could be easily covered in forest, or at least have more trees. if seeds were planted. In some places you will see a couple of Canary Palms that are growing naturally that have obviously come from seeds that have fallen there.
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:56 pm
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funky
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That's incredible that they are considered an excessive pest in other countries whilst they are protected in the Canaries. Its even more interesting to note that they are considered by some in the Canaries to have been an undesirable hybrid in the first place !! 
Maybe I should try to grow a few palms myself. I need some growing advice on Cacti too... but are your fingers as green as your hair??
I've been trying to grow mixed Cacti from packet seeds which I have planted outdoors, but no success yet. I've kept them covered with clingfilm (direct sunlight for about 4 hours a day), regular earth soil and watered regularly, as I understand the seeds have to stay on or near the surface to germinate and therefore I assume they are vulnerable to being eaten without some sort of cover? Not sure if the clingfilm is overheating the soil though. Maybe I should germinate them indoors and then transfer the baby plants outside?
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:26 pm
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bardofely
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From Wikipedia:
"In California, New Zealand and Australia, P. canariensis has proven to be an invasive plant. In New Zealand, it has invaded a range of habitats, including dense rainforest. It also invades mangrove wetlands, and is salt tolerant."
The cling film may be the problem. I have grown cacti from seed but not with that method. If you think about it they don't have cling film covering the soil where they would fall naturally. It may also be that you haven't given them long enough to germinate - some species take a very long time!
If you try palms you are more or less guaranteed success. There are always plenty of seeds lying on pavements and flower beds. Stick some in and see what happens!
Dragon Trees are easy too but take about a month to come through.
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Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:08 pm
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funky
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Thanks Bard, I never thought of finding seeds on the pavements, but I suppose that's the cheapest way to get them. Its certainly better than paying €5,00 for a pack in the garden centre! 
I'm not sure if the tree in my garden is a Dragon Tree. I've uploaded a photo of it in my personal gallery if Bard or anyone can identify the precise species?
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Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:58 pm
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bardofely
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The one with the straight trunk in the corner looks like a Dragon Tree. I have seen the seeds of these on sale at 1.25 for 2 in a packet while at the same time I have seen hundreds all over the ground or even pruned off on the fruiting stalk and thrown in a skip! I have seen thousands of palm seeds all over the floor, on pavements, borders, carparks and wherever they fall.
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Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:11 pm
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helresa
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Location: La Palma
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The drago tree seeds need to be put in a small amount of acid before they are OK for planting. There used to be a bird that ate them and therefore striped the protection off, but this bird was made extinct when the spanish arrived.
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Theresa Davis
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Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:42 pm
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bardofely
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| helresa wrote: | | The drago tree seeds need to be put in a small amount of acid before they are OK for planting. There used to be a bird that ate them and therefore striped the protection off, but this bird was made extinct when the spanish arrived. |
I've read that too but I have found it not to be the case and have wondered if it is just another Internet myth. I agree they germinate better if soaked first but they come up anyway if just planted. I have germinated loads! I have even seen them as weeds where they have fallen and sprouted and then been removed by the over-zealous gardeners on this island who like to see large bare areas of earth covered in stone chippings and like to see shrubs, climbers and trees hacked down or ripped out!
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Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:22 pm
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bardofely
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Update on the green blotch protection for trees idea - it doesn't work! Here in Icod at the main roundabout there were three small palms with green daubed paint on them and one was being propped up with wooden supports because it was falling sideways. Anyway a team of men have been working there and on nearby borders for the past few weeks and they removed the green-marked palms and haven't replanted them anywhere there but they have put in a whole load of new shrubs, flowers and trees along with hosepipes to water them and planted a lawn on the roundabout. Thousands of weeds are springing up in the wet soil around the plants being watered in and I am wondering what they will do about that. Probably nothing! Considering there is a drought I am always amazed at how much water is thrown on the ground to water plants in public displays and done in hot sunny conditions where a lot of it evaporates! I wonder who authorises this madness?
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:57 am
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