大彎曲的細葉榕

Choice of Passer-by 「D」

-        Big Bend of Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa)

樹幹離地最近約有50吋

the main trunk bends to just about 50」 off the ground

此樹以繩索連接在另一棵大樹上，並不能負上重量，作用成疑．

網主有個簡單的推論，此樹本身的重心側在一旁， 樹根壓力沉重．一旦根部承受不了，或者是強風加重樹冠向下的壓力，此樹便會自然倒下；樹下是行人路，倒下會構成意外．以樹胸粗1.21米倒下 時對行人構成極大威脅．三個條件相加，屬於受關注的樹木．

聽說官方以拉力測試樹幹承受能力得出沒有即時危險，相信不會再做任何改善工程．但谷主認為，此樹以石屎支撐架鞏固樹身才是 較好的做法．

The Chinese Banyan in the picture does not have any fallback and is half-falling across the pavement.  It is one of the trees in the 「Register of Old and Valuable Trees」 compiled by LCSD.  You can find it at Luen Wan Street in Mongkok, with CW of 18 M, DBH of 1.21M, at a height of 9M, registration number:  LCSD YTM/103.  In the book 「Register of Old and Valuable Trees in Hong Kong」, published by Cosmos Books Ltd., it is rated as 70 years of age.  The tree is tilted off balance obviously. 

The tree is joined to another tree by a cable.  This tree cannot bear any weight and the purpose of this practice is in doubt. 

The webmaster has a simple inference.  Its center of gravity is shifted to one side and the roots are under immense pressure.  Once the roots cannot endure any more or strong winds increase the downward pressure on the crown, this tree will certainly fall.  The pavement is right under the tree.  If it falls, accidents inevitably happen.  You can imagine the threatening impact to the pedestrians when this 1.21M-DBH tree falls.  To sum up, we need to pay close attention to this tree.

It is said that the government has performed some tensile tests to the trunks and concluded that there is no immediate danger.  No further improvement works will be carried out.  However, I believe that concrete support frame to strength the tree is the better way to go.

The tree shown below is a Chinese Banyan in Guangzhou Shamian.  It is also bending, but the concrete prop alleviates the pressure to the roots and the growth of aerial roots is well conducted.

*translated by Mary Chung

facebook群組, s94096507@gmail.com