Willow beech in Todtmoos
The willow beech from Todtmoos was a hat tree in the shape of a red beech ( Fagus sylvatica ). Until 2013 it stood at an altitude of around 1100 m between Todtmoos-Prestenberg and the Hochkopf and was 400 years old, according to a wooden panel on the trunk. This is an exceptionally old age for this tree species, as beeches rarely get older than 300 years.
Willow beeches are more common, especially in the Swabian Alb area. They arise from the fact that several young plants grow up behind thorny bushes and thus protected from browsing by grazing cattle in close proximity as " eyrie " and later form a common trunk. In contrast to the red beeches of the forest, which can be up to 40 meters high, common beeches generally have a very broad crown that develops very early from the massive, deeply furrowed trunk.
The trunk of this specimen was 6.25 meters in circumference, and the rich and fine branches of its crown gave it a characteristic mushroom shape. The tree was still in very good condition for its age, even if some branches had died.
On July 12, 2013, due to rot, the tree broke apart and partially toppled over. Those responsible on site decided to completely remove the willow beech for safety reasons. The recently inaugurated Lebküchler hiking trail now only leads past the tree stump that is over six meters high.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Andreas Böhm: Todtmoos: Willow beech falls after 400 years . In: Badische Zeitung , July 17, 2013; Retrieved August 25, 2013
- ↑ O. Schmidt: The beech. Fagus sylvatica . (PDF; 496 kB) German Forest Protection Association; Retrieved August 25, 2013
Coordinates: 47 ° 45 ′ 48.5 ″ N , 7 ° 59 ′ 38.5 ″ E