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CF Admin
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
Posts: 586
From: Rel Astra
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Thu Apr 07, 2005 9:32 am
Decidious Treants
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Obviously Treants loose their leaves in the winter, or they'd stick out like blazing fire in an open field in said season.
But what do trees do when they don't have leaves? They aren't going through the photosynthesis process...
Do trees "hybernate" in the winter? Is that what Treants would do?
Is there a botanist in the house? Word _________________ Kneel before me, or you shall be KNELT!
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Journeyman Greytalker
Joined: Aug 12, 2001
Posts: 188
From: Hanover Park
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Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:00 am
Hi all,
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Thought I'd try this forum since the real Greytalk listserv is quiet...
One could say that ents live in forest so deep that not even winter touches there. That takes care of your botanical problem and sounds appropriate for discussing tree fairies, though granted it becomes a meteorlogical problem for the campaign setting unless slyvan forests in the Flanaess connect to a demi-plane of Fairy...
~Scott C.
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Grandmaster Greytalker
Joined: Aug 05, 2004
Posts: 1446
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Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:06 pm
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Some desiduous trees keep their leaves in winter. One type of oak, I know for sure. But can't remember the name. Ugly as sin in the winter, though. The leaves turn brown but they don't drop. They drop in spring when new leaves bud out.
Maybe treants are similar? With a personality change? Less friendly, more aggressive in winter? _________________ GVD
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Apprentice Greytalker
Joined: Sep 19, 2003
Posts: 42
From: Dolly-land
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Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:17 am
The naked treant
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Fellers,
In general, deciduous trees (and evergreens to some extent) store up nutrients in their stem and root tissues when they are photosynthetically active, and limit metabolism during the period that they loose thier leaves and the weather is poor (i.e., winter). Most vegetation attempts to reproduce before they leaf-out in the spring, generally using the last of their energy reserves. If the winter is really long, or there is some other stress, the tree will limit or not reproduce and/or produce a limited leaf-out.
In the case of treants, I would suppose that they would not be as active in the winter, and would be aggrevated if they were disturbed during thier down time. However, treants are "magical" and are not bound by any of our "earthly" natural laws...so anything goes!
FL _________________ Nixiespixies and grigs OH MY!
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Grandmaster Greytalker
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
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Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:56 am
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So, the Entwives left because they got tired of hearing the Ents complaining about going bald and having swollen feet (roots) in the winter?
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CF Admin
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
Posts: 586
From: Rel Astra
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Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:08 am
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Thank you, Sirs. _________________ Kneel before me, or you shall be KNELT!
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Apprentice Greytalker
Joined: Nov 27, 2001
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From: North of NYC
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Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:51 pm
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Some desiduous trees keep their leaves in winter. One type of oak, I know for sure. But can't remember the name. Ugly as sin in the winter, though. The leaves turn brown but they don't drop. They drop in spring when new leaves bud out. |
So THAT'S what's up with that oak tree in my backyard! I just bought the house last summer. All through the autumn I was putting off raking the leaves because I was waiting for the oak leaves to drop. Finally I gave up on waiting. Now the spring is here and those brown leaves are still hanging on. I guess they'll be dropping soon and I'll get rake again. Hooray for me.
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Grandmaster Greytalker
Joined: Aug 05, 2004
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Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:06 am
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Lennis wrote: |
Quote: |
Some desiduous trees keep their leaves in winter. One type of oak, I know for sure. But can't remember the name. Ugly as sin in the winter, though. The leaves turn brown but they don't drop. They drop in spring when new leaves bud out. |
So THAT'S what's up with that oak tree in my backyard! I just bought the house last summer. All through the autumn I was putting off raking the leaves because I was waiting for the oak leaves to drop. Finally I gave up on waiting. Now the spring is here and those brown leaves are still hanging on. I guess they'll be dropping soon and I'll get rake again. Hooray for me. |
Yup. They are a pain. Twice the ranking. Or you can use a leaf vacuum. You can buy one or make one - just attach/fashion a hose/tubing to the mower's grass ejection port and run it back to a small cart or wagon (even a child's kind/size) the mower can pull; a cardboard or wooden box with a hole for the hose/tubing on the cart/wagon and you are good to go. You mow, the leaves blow and then you dump the box. Still a pain but less so. _________________ GVD
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Apprentice Greytalker
Joined: Nov 27, 2001
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From: North of NYC
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Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:10 am
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That, GVD, is a GREAT idea. And the fact that my wife will be all nervous as I tinker with power tools (i.e. the lawnmower) will make it even better!
Thanks!!!
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Grandmaster Greytalker
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Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:18 am
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Lennis wrote: |
That, GVD, is a GREAT idea. And the fact that my wife will be all nervous as I tinker with power tools (i.e. the lawnmower) will make it even better!
Thanks!!! |
You are welcome. Its Greyhawk "tool-time!" "More power! Wawh, wawh, wawh, wawh." _________________ GVD
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Apprentice Greytalker
Joined: Sep 28, 2004
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Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:43 am
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Obviously Treants loose their leaves in the winter, or they'd stick out like blazing fire in an open field in said season.
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Is there any other reason for a walkin tree other than mobile firewood?
Maraudar
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Master Greytalker
Joined: Jan 05, 2002
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From: Sky Island, So Cal
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Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:03 pm
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The primary reason that deciduous trees drop their leaves in the winter is not that it is cold or even that there is less light (though those contribute) but that it is DRY. A freeze means that there is no liquid water available, and the cold, dry air sucks the moisture out of anything that is retaining water.
Trees like other plants need liquid water for the process of photosynthesis. (the water molecule is actually ripped apart, giving its electrons to an electron transport chain that generates energy - the oxygen from water is released into the air, the hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide to make sugar for the plant, as if you cared). So liquid water is the fuel for plants and one would assume for treants as well.
Thus, if treants have access to a supply of liquid water through the winter, there is no reason they couldn't stay leafed out and active. For example, they could make occasional trips to a spring or deep natural well and "drink up", refresh their water supplies, and keep photosynsthesizing. If not, then they probably drop their leaves and sleep through the winter unless disturbed.
That, of course, is a real world description. It is doubtful anything like a tree could make enough energy from photosynthesis to move around, besides the problem of something with lignified cell walls taking a walk. So treants active any time of year defy most basic real world laws. They are obviously feeding on and animated by something other than sunshine. I would say they are tapped into the magic weave of the forst. So if you think that is enough to animate them, they drop their leaves but stay active in the winter. If you don't like that, they sleep. _________________ My campaigns are multilayered tapestries upon which I texture themes and subject matter which, quite frankly, would simply be too strong for your hobbyist gamer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mp7Ikko8SI
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CF Admin
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
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From: Rel Astra
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Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:17 am
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Thanks alot Kirt, that was very informative. I think I like the "angry-if-disturbed, sleeping treants," but real world mechanics are a sweet bonus. _________________ Kneel before me, or you shall be KNELT!
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