An article from ginmar

[conuly]

Roadsides planted with native plants (in the US) have more bees.

Now, the article states that native plants "have deeper roots". Does this mean that plants native to the US generally have deeper roots than plants native to other areas, or does it mean that plants generally have deeper roots in their native area, or does it mean that imported plants to the US tend to not have deep roots? And, whatever the reason, why is that?

Comments

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

Now that's an interesting question, because what I learned in the landscaping class I just took is that what makes a plant have deep roots is getting drenched infrequently (versus getting a small amount of water regularly), but not all plants can develop roots as deep as other plants. I mean, when I hear "native plants have deep roots" I take it to mean that the plants that are native to New Mexico more easily develop deep roots than plants that are brought in from elsewhere, because in the desert, deep roots are adaptive. But plants in places that get a small amount of rain regularly (like on the East Coast), plants don't naturally develop deep roots, which is why they tend to die of drought out here in the desert.

So in other words, the statement that "native plants have deep roots" in general makes no sense to me, because the whole reason you can't plant (most) New England plants in New Mexico is that (most) New England plants don't have (and won't develop) deep roots. (There are many non-native plants that develop deep roots in the desert just as easily as native plants do, even if they wouldn't have them in their native environment--tea roses and the Japanese maple tree, particularly the green ones, are two.)

[cumaeansibyl.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if invasive plant species might be particularly successful at invading because they have shallow root systems and can thrive/spread more easily, but I am not a botanist.

completely unrelated

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine has run into some issues with a friend of hers who has Asperger Syndrome. she called me asking for advice because she knows that I know a few people with Aspergers, but I really don't think that any advice that I gave her based off of my own anecdotal evidence would truly be appropriate. Would it be okay for me to write you a lengthy letter explaining the situation so that you could give me advice to give to her, considering that you knowledge and experience regarding the subject far outweighs mine?

Re: completely unrelated

[conuly]

Yes, so long as you bear in mind that my opinion is just my opinion. If she needs more opinions, there's always the really slow comm ask_an_aspie. (Very slow, but at least there's more aspies and autistics in general there.)

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

Now that's an interesting question, because what I learned in the landscaping class I just took is that what makes a plant have deep roots is getting drenched infrequently (versus getting a small amount of water regularly), but not all plants can develop roots as deep as other plants. I mean, when I hear "native plants have deep roots" I take it to mean that the plants that are native to New Mexico more easily develop deep roots than plants that are brought in from elsewhere, because in the desert, deep roots are adaptive. But plants in places that get a small amount of rain regularly (like on the East Coast), plants don't naturally develop deep roots, which is why they tend to die of drought out here in the desert.

So in other words, the statement that "native plants have deep roots" in general makes no sense to me, because the whole reason you can't plant (most) New England plants in New Mexico is that (most) New England plants don't have (and won't develop) deep roots. (There are many non-native plants that develop deep roots in the desert just as easily as native plants do, even if they wouldn't have them in their native environment--tea roses and the Japanese maple tree, particularly the green ones, are two.)

[cumaeansibyl.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if invasive plant species might be particularly successful at invading because they have shallow root systems and can thrive/spread more easily, but I am not a botanist.

completely unrelated

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine has run into some issues with a friend of hers who has Asperger Syndrome. she called me asking for advice because she knows that I know a few people with Aspergers, but I really don't think that any advice that I gave her based off of my own anecdotal evidence would truly be appropriate. Would it be okay for me to write you a lengthy letter explaining the situation so that you could give me advice to give to her, considering that you knowledge and experience regarding the subject far outweighs mine?

Re: completely unrelated

[conuly]

Yes, so long as you bear in mind that my opinion is just my opinion. If she needs more opinions, there's always the really slow comm ask_an_aspie. (Very slow, but at least there's more aspies and autistics in general there.)