Home
Spreading the Word
Typical Appearances
Briefing
Prevention
First Aid
Medical Care
Identification
Stems
Reproduction
Foliage
Risk ManagementBiochemistry
Anecdotes
Bibliography
Appendices
Apical Dominance
Hormones from the apex (tip) of poison-oak stems circulate just under the bark all the way to the roots of the plant. Buds for side branches are formed at regular intervals along the sides of the stems, but remain dormant. However if the tip of a branch dies, the highest surviving bud, and often also the top bud of the previous years growth, take over.
The bud at each node is set to begin growing at a 69 degree angle to the stem. When the dead tissue has been shed, that leaves a funny crook in the stem, called an elbow:
In the hotter, drier locations in Morro Bay each year poison-oak grows through the plants that shade it in spring and then die back, typically to three inches within the shading plants crown; but as much as six inches inside during droughts:
Click image for larger version.
Elbows reveal the growth history of particular plants for years:
Click image for larger version.
A Devils Pitchfork
(My term)
The combined effects of phototropism and apical dominance can be seen in this specimen, extracted from a small oak tree at Los Osos Oak Reserve.