Lean in red alder (Alnusrubra): growth stress, tension wood, and righting response

Abstract

Natural stands and a 3-year-old plantation of red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) trees were used to study the incidence of leaning stems, the level of growth stresses and tension wood formation, and the ability of the stems to right themselves to vertical. Overall, 10% of the 512 trees in 10 natural stands leaned >22°. The largest diameter trees on the steepest slopes leaned most. Most (61%) of the trees curved upward, showing a righting response. For samples without tension wood, growth stress levels on the upper side of leaning stems, but not on the lateral or lower sides, were positively correlated with lean angles above 6°. These leaning stems had a significant righting response without tension wood. Tension wood formation was variable at leans from 9° to 26° both within and among trees, but was correlated with eccentric growth rings. We measured stem recovery in the year-old stem of 3-year-old trees bent to angles of 0–37.5°. During the 5-month experiment all stems righted to near vertical. Tension wood formed on the upper side in stems bent >6°, but reversed to the lower side before reaching vertical in 22 of 30 trees.