Strange Root Behaviors (2)

As an effort to keep the growing area tidy, two long overgrown roots of plant (1) were pushed back into the medium a few months ago. The growth tips were pushed into the sphagnum moss layer until they touched or almost touched the diatomite. In the remount today, the 2 roots are found to have stopped growing the moment they were pushed into the moss. The growing tip did not venture deeper into the medium, and the originally green part of the growing tip was covered with velamen (the white layer).

This observation supports the hypothesize that roots of phal cornu-cervi dislike growing in sphagnum moss and/or perpetual moisture at its roots.

Root hairs are seen on the originally green part of the growing tips that have been covered with the velamen when they were pushed into the media. The contact with the moss and/or moisture of the moss could have induced the growth of these roots hairs for water absorption and anchorage.