In article ,
"david taylor" writes:
|
| Many years ago oak and beech were contrasted in a natural history programme
| on the BBC-it could have been radio3.
| Beech has a shallow root system, and also holds on to its dead leaves well
| into the winter thus denying nutrients to other trees.
| Oak with a deep root system lost its leaves early in the season thus
| allowing deep borrowing earth worms plenty of time to drag the leaves down.
| On this account extensive beech woods do not develope a very dense
| undergrowth.

Grrk. That sounds simplistic to the point of being misleading. The
delay in dropping leaves will merely delay the return of the nutrients,
not reduce it. More plausibly, a shallow root system will also deny
seedlings access to surface nutients and (more seriously) water - you
can see that effect even with herbaceous plants.

However, it is a myth, anyway. For a comparable level of cover, there
is very little difference between oak (Q. robur and pedunculata) and
beech in terms of undergrowth. Look at the trees, and woodlands
comprised of them, to see. Also, only YOUNG beech trees hold onto
their leaves beyond autumn - and hedges, which are artificially
rejuvenated. Large beeches drop their leaves later than oak, but still
leaving plenty of time for worms to drag the leaves down.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.