Big-time quiz solved

I was going to call this quiz a ‘stumper’ but that would have been a giveaway – not to mention a horrible pun!  This is a sycmore (Platanus occidentalis) and, as noted by a couple of folks, the large size is due to being produced by stump sprouts.  Now I know why Linda says this is such a good class!

2 thoughts on “Big-time quiz solved”

  1. Stump sprouts, water sprouts, and suckers are forms of adventitious shoots (shoots that arise some where other than an apical bud). These are often fast growing-shoots with larger than normal leaves. Why? Probably several factors; but certainly a combination of ready access to a reserve of carbohydrates in the roots and an interuption of normal hormornal balance play a major role.

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