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Bright Red Leaves on Crimson King Norway Maple
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Posted by bjpetey z4 WI (My Page) on Thu, Jun 9, 05 at 22:16
| Hi, I have a question I hope can be answered here. I've got a Crimson King (or possibly a Royal Red) Maple that has just this year produced one branch with bright red leaves instead of the usual dark maroon-green. None of the other new growth on the tree has this color. Could this be a branch mutation, and if it was, is there any chance a tree of only these leaves could photosynthesize? There is NO visible green pigment, which I assume means these leaves aren't photosynthesizing because all the red light is being reflected. When I say bright red I mean BRIGHT RED. Just wondering if anyone has any comments or thoughts on this... Maybe you can clarify my understanding. I could figure out how to post a picture if you'd like one.
Thank,
Bryan |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bright Red Leaves on Crimson King Norway Maple
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- Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 9, 05 at 23:22
| The green pigment is chlorophyll. It's there, or your tree wouldn't be. ;o) The leaves contain chlorophyll and are carrying on photosynthesis or the lack of auxin flow across the abscission layer would cause leaves to drop. It could be a mutation, but more likely not. I would look to injury, and my guess would be damage to water transport system, maybe something like canker clogging vascular system causing accellerated senescence (aging) of leaves. Others more expert than I may have other ideas. Al |
RE: Bright Red Leaves on Crimson King Norway Maple
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| Thanks for the info and ideas. I guess I'll just let the branch continue to grow and see what happens with it later in the season and next year. -Bryan |
RE: Bright Red Leaves on Crimson King Norway Maple
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| It sounds like a branch mutation, which is called a sport. If that branch is unable to produce chlorophyll, then the red color would be unmuted since it no longer was mixed with green. A whole tree like that would be unable to survive, but I see no reason a single branch couldn't. I have a spirea outside with a completely white branch - no chlorophyll there. --Bob |
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