Can anyone explain the following: While searching for wild Eastern Redbuds in Ocean County, NJ on 4.20.24 I came upon what appeared to be a redbud branch growing from an oak. Approximately half the tree was redbud and the other half oak. At first I thought I must be mistaken but when I followed the redbud branch back to its source it was growing from the trunk of an oak. What’s more, the oak had a redbud flower growing out its main trunk. I am aware of the phenomena of inosculation, but these are two separate species. The only explanation I could think of was a graft. However, this is a tree essentially growing in the wild so there is no reason anyone would have performed a graft on a wild tree. Also, as far as I know, the single redbud flower growing out of the oak’s trunk cannot be explained by a graft. I have video and pics. I would appreciate an explanation if possible.
I'm going to guess that a redbud seed got caught on the trunk of the oak. We see lots of licorice ferns growing on maple trees here in Vancouver, and we see nurse logs in the woods sporting other kinds of plants, so the idea of seeds or spores taking hold in whatever they happen to land on seems like a possible though rare scenario. Maybe the lichen provided a pocket just big enough to catch the seed. I like your documentation.
Possibly although seems very unlikely to me. Also, how can we explain the single redbud flower emerging from the oak trunk at a completely different site than the redbud branch?
