Diary of a Wood Part 4: Daylight the power supply
- andyrevell
- 34 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Mid Sussex Times February 12 1982
New England Wood, Cuckfield, has now been preserved for all time as a nature reserve by the dedicated work of the Beech Farm Preservation Society, the Cuckfield Society and other residents of the community.
One of them, Mr Stan Hallet, who visited the wood regularly throughout 1981, has produced a 54,000 word diary about it, which the Mid Sussex Times is serialising.
February
'At this time of the year it is useful to reflect on how daylight affects both growth and reproduction in plants. It provides the supply of energy for photosynthesis.
Throughout the day and night there is continual expenditure of energy through respiration of sugars. This energy maintains the normal functions of the plant and provides for additional growth. It must be met by energy income from photosynthesis or by drawing on the plants reserve of stored food (bulb or rhizomes).
At the lower light intensity, the ratio of photosynthesis increases with brighter light but respiration is not affected, being much more affected by temperature.
There is, therefore, a balance point between income and expenditure, known as the 'compensation point'. Different species of plants vary on their compensation point.
In the case of bluebells, they have a low temperature requirement for respiration to take place, but before the compensation point the plant must draw on its reserves as it is by living beyond its income.
The question then arises, how can the plant survive? A low compensation point can be achieved by efficient performance at low light intensity, which may result in the leaf surface being adapted by increasing the surface to volume ratio, which is what the bluebell does.
The alternative is a slower rate of expenditure, which means slower growth.
Normally plants with a lower compensation point cannot make use of light intensity, largely because some other factor comes into play.
It is understood that there is an obligation for the provision of two new footpaths, designated by the Mid Sussex District Council in the conditions of sale, to be established through the wood, thus enabling the land to be available for public enjoyment. I am sure that when the necessary clearances, to give effect to this obligation, are planned they will provide for light conditions which will encourage natural succession to take place.
On this assumption, the position will be well worth watching and studying over several years for there will be quite a rush by plants to occupy the spaces, because most flowering plants need bright light and this is where they will find it.
Natural succession should be witnessed, depending on the richness of the soil, the changes could be quite rapid. A similar position will also arise when or if coppicing is undertaken, for this has been neglected for many years.
There are some large holly trees, Ilex Aquifolium amongst the rhododendron bushes and in the vicinity of some sweet chestnut, Castanea Sativa and sycamores, Acer Pseudoplatanus.
Evergreens are quite prominent at this time of the year, before the buds of deciduous trees have opened. A number of Silver Birch trees, Betula Pendula have the fungus Piptoporus Betulinus growing on them.
I particularly examined one on a broken trunk which showed clearly the rate at which the wood was being broken down. This fungus is known as Birch Polypore or Razor Strop fungus, since it was used for this purpose. It occurs on living and dead birch trees, causing their death. It has a thick cap which is bun like, kidney shaped or almost circular, with a smooth upper surface and white tubers under. When dry it becomes corky.
Amongst the leaf litter, growing on the decaying log was Xylaria Hypoxylon
known as candle snuff or staghorn fungus. The fruit body varies from simply erect, flattened stem, to a much branched antler shape. It is white at first, with powdery conidea above and black below. It occurs through the year.
Another tree stump has tiered clusters of Trametes Versicolor on it. The upper surfaces are velvety and marked with alternating zones are various colours. These are usually shades of yellow, brown and grey but the colour is variable and often includes tinges of red, green or blue. There still remain many old puffballs Lycoperdon Perlatum, mostly in groups and still able to puff out spores, when disturbed, like miniature volcanoes.
At the base of tree stumps, amongst mosses, the slender stalks, rising from small greyish green scales, of Cladonia Coniocraea were numerous. They are curved, taper to a point and are usually covered with grey green powdery reproductive structures, known as 'soredia'.
Before leaving the wood I examined a lichen on a beech tree, it was Pertusaria Amara. It forms granular crusts on the bark. The surface is covered with clusters of white, powdery, reproductive structures (soredia), which have a bitter taste. It is very common. The Lichen: Parmelia Subrudecta, was also present on a nearby log. It has rounded lobes and clusters of soredia, which develop as white dots.'
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