The Study of Trees by Chipka
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Description
The hand is a prehensile, multi-digit extremity located at the end of an arm or manipulator branch of predatory trees.
Hands are the chief organs for physically manipulating the local environment; they are capable of both gross motor skills (grasping or manipulating large prey) and fine motor skills (such as grooming or removing bothersome pest insects from bark.) Most trees possess multiple sets of hands, dedicated to either gross or fine motor skills. Gross motor skill hands often lie farther from the main trunk and closer to ground level, while fine motor skill hands exist closer to the crowns of trees, and closer to the trunk. Hands, unlike photosynthetic leaves, remain attached to the parent tree throughout the year, though they often change color in winter. Removal of a hand results in the release of sap and the eventual regeneration of the missing extremity. Once removed from the parent body, a hand will shrivel and die, and trees such as Maples will actively remove their oldest or damaged hands, often shedding them with normal foliage in autumnal months. Hands may be distinguished from conventional leaves by their size: gross motor hands are generally larger than photosynthetic leaves and fine motor skill hands are, in general, smaller: both types of hands will often blacken when wilted.
Among animal anatomists, the term “hand” is used in general to define the forelimb appendage of digits; this has led to controversy among anatomists as tree-morphology does not include concepts such as anterior and posterior. Tree hands are distributed throughout the leaf crown of any tree, though many can be found growing, on vine-like limbs up and along the trunk in a manner analogous to the invasion of ivy. Indeed, most Maple hands, for example, mimic ivy coverings in what evolutionary theorists believe is a way of protecting the tree trunk from wood boring insects.
Most intriguingly, however, is the manner in which Maples (and a few other species of tree) will often utilize their hands in non verbal communication. As the hands are capable of a whole range of movements, arborists have been able to observe apparently “useless” controlled motions. In 1924, Russian arborist Vladimir Gavrikov suggested that these “useless” controlled motions were a form of sign language, but it was not until 1972 that Soviet arborists were able to confirm such a theory and map out a complex, and uniform vocabulary of gestures. Such efforts have led to our contemporary understanding of trees, and to the knowledge that each species possesses its own, distinct gestural language. Science has yet to understand the purpose of arboreal gestures; though it is often accepted that trees possess linguistic abilities, no one has yet defined the method by which trees perceive the gestures of other trees, as they do not possess light-gathering organs analogous to eyes.
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Um…I have no idea where that came from. But there it is. I took this photograph yesterday and decided in the wee, late night/early morning hours to play around with it. I played and tweaked, and then abandoned all of my changes and simply reverted back to the original photograph I’d taken. I simply added “fig. 1” and the story above seemed to blossom like the strangest, most curious of brain weeds. I was thinking of another story at the time, and now I’m rather taken by the idea of exploring the language and habits of trees. I want to explore this idea a bit more and so, consider yourself warned.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re having the start of a great week.
Comments (23)
MagikUnicorn
Five points for each continent ;-) I like...was so hot today here up north 30c - 90f WOWWW INCREDIBLE
auntietk
I had no idea. Truly. There's a huge maple in our yard, and I've seen it do its thing for many, many years. Didn't know about the hands. !!! You never cease to amaze me, my friend, even though by now I should be immune. Outstanding photograph, btw. If you'd posted it on its own, with no "fig 1" and no text, it would still be a top-drawer, fine-art photograph. Fabulous!
durleybeachbum
Magnificent outpouring! What a fertile set of cells you have,Chip! The thesis is not a new thought for me, as I talk to anything with a pulse and condier all my equal, but you have expanded my 'seed thought' amazingly. Thankyou!!
CoreyBlack
Fascinating. I first discovered trees in all their delicious diversity at a young age. In 1968, I began to draw them exclusively, which I did until discovering automobiles in 1971. I've always had a fondness for trees, but in 1977 I became aware of the fact that they were trying to kill me and stopped climbing them. I now have a rather wary relationship with trees. I've often wondered what those cloth appendages sticking out of trees in the wintertime were; I now realize they are gloves... Brilliant, once again my zany friend. I hope your genius will soon be discovered by a larger audience. And people will finally see what I've been putting up with for the last twelve and a half years.(wink)This is wonderful, both in picture and in word. Bravo!
jocko500
cool looking Maple. I love it on pancakes
anmes
Magic!
blankfrancine
Fine and subtle photography.
Lashia
Beautiful colours- thanks for sharing! :)
CloverLinda
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of Robins in her hair; Upon her bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. Don't know why I thought of this poem but your capture is beautiful by its simplicity. :))))
Orinoor
When I was young, there was a large poplar across the street and on windy days I swore it looked just like a group of gossiping women, err, humans. Perhaps the visual aspect of the tree gestures is just a manifestation of their chemical language. Really lovely photo and essay.
MrsRatbag
Beautiful shot, and you had me going there; OK, it was a long day, and I'm not conceited enough to think I've heard all there is to know about any subject. I was willing to accept your tale as a strange new truth!
MadameX
I am duly warned, but not afraid! Love your little tale and look forward to any expansions you create. And the leaf is beautiful in it's simplicity. As it has been said "Less is more".
West_coaster07
Very interesting and superb as usual!
anianiani
Excellent work & i like coloring
kgb224
Outstanding capture and study my friend. I never had an idea of the similarities between a hand and a leaf.
moochagoo
Very interesting story !
beachzz
That poem came to my mind as well. A simple leaf that becomes so elegant and beautiful all by itself. I know your fotos always have a story and this one didn't disappoint!!
RodS
Too cool, Chip! Love the photo and narrative - excellent!
flavia49
fantastic
knupps
Great capture and lighting.
icerian
I like your comments. This is very nice one, as Anmes said: magic! Nice idea and realization.
jac204
What an orginal concept, trees talking with their hands! Love your capture and commentary.
myrrhluz
Beautiful image. Wonderful simplicity, detail, and colors. I like the parchment color of the background and the shadow. Very entertaining narrative. I like the idea of trees speaking in sign language and the curiosity of exactly how do they see it. There is obviously still a lot to be learned about these majestic creatures. But even if we learn their language, would they want our words or are we too low on their pecking order to be 'heard'? I fear we would not make the cut.