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Name: Katie H.
Status: other
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999-2001
Question:
Recently I was shown two pictures: one of a tree with a red scar caused by a lightning strike and the other of the same tree after a period of time with the same scar, but without the red color.... I would like to know why the lightning caused the wood of the tree to turn red and why the wood returned to its original color after a period of time. I do not know the species of the tree or how deep the scar was.

Replies:
Perhaps related to new exposure of wood vs. oxidation over time, and/or to tree wounds and recovery.

http://www.hort.agri.umn.edu/MG/treetext.html

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/revenue/manuals/scaling/Contents.htm

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.


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