Oaks at Toomer’s Corner Update, November 2012

Both trees were pruned in August 2012 for safety reasons. Since then, the trees have formed very few new leaves, and most of these new leaves were restricted to the rhizomic shoots or suckers at the base of both trees. From earlier testing, we know that photosynthesis was greatly reduced in the canopy leaves of both trees prior to pruning, indicating the presence of the herbicide tebuthiuron in the foliage. However, photosynthesis of foliage on the rhizomic shoots was as high as that of leaves of healthy trees, suggesting the presence of lower levels of tebuthiuron in these shoots and that these shoots were beneficial to the health of the trees.

Note the dense mass of rhizomic shoots or suckers at the base of one of the oaks at Toomer’s

Corner.

Around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012, following Auburn’s victory over Alabama A&M on Saturday night, toilet paper draped over the oaks burned, significantly damaging the trees.

Celebration at Toomer’s Corner following Auburn’s victory over Alabama A&M Saturday, November 17, 2012 (Internet photo)

The burning of the oaks at Toomer’s Corner early Sunday morning (Internet photo)

Members of Auburn University’s Task Force examined the trees on November 19, 2012, and observed severe injury and death of most of the rhizomic shoots surrounding the trunks of the two oaks, scorching of most of the leaves on the tree close to Magnolia Avenue, damage to the bark of both trees near ground level, and collateral damage to several trees and shrubs adjoining the plaza at Toomer’s Corner. This damage to the oaks at Toomer’s Corner is likely to further weaken two trees that were already in a state of severe decline.

Note the almost complete absence of foliage on the live tree closest to College Street. Foliage

present before the fire was brown by the morning after the fire.

Almost all of the foliage in the canopy of the oak closest to Magnolia Avenue was injured and will most likely abscise over the next several weeks.

Note the burnt rhizomic shoots at the base of the two oaks at Toomer’s Corner. Most of these

shoots were severely injured or killed by the fire.

Note the blackened bark at the base of the two oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The bark on the lower trunk of the oak closest to College Street (lower photo) was already showing signs of

herbicide poisoning prior to the fire.

Fire damage to the foliage of a Southern magnolia south of Toomer’s Corner

Fire damage to several hollies south of Toomer’s Corner

The Oaks at Toomer’s Corner 8 Days after the November 18, 2012 Fire

In the week following the fire, most of the foliage at the base and in the canopy of both trees has browned and begun to abscise. The remainder of the brown foliage will drop over the next week or two. Because of the timing of the fire, neither tree is likely to form any new leaves before spring, and any photosynthate possibly produced by the rhizomic shoots at the base of the trees over winter will be negligible.

The oak at Toomer’s Corner closest to Magnolia Ave. Note the scorched foliage in the canopy and at the base of the tree.

The oak at Toomer’s Corner closest to College Street. Note the scorched foliage at the base of the tree and the almost complete absence of foliage in the canopy.

Most of the rhizomic shoots at the trees’ base are dead.