The Up-side-down Tree!
Sep 10th, 2008 by Miranda
Firstly, I would like to point out just how enjoyable saying ‘up-side-down’ is. Secondly I will inform my reader’s that this is truly not the case while typing it. I will therefore refer to the Up-side-down Tree (last time, I swear) as the USD tree. Thank you for your cooperation in my mini-boycott.
But seriously!? How do more people not know about this tree? It is located across from Koerner Library, beside the path that leads past the buildings with the astronomy drawings on the ground (Please don’t refer to them as the “astrology drawings” – the star gazer’s don’t like that much). You really can’t miss it. And I will tell you why (I know the suspense is killing you).
Apparently, though I am not entirely sure if this is just urban myth or not, but Apparently a professor had a wee game of dare/speculation with some of his past students. His theory was that if you turn a grown tree upside down and plant it again, its roots will become branches and its branches will become roots. No word of a lie.
The proof? Look at the coolest tree you will ever see! Check it out! You can totally tell. If I were my technologically inclined, you wouldn’t have to go look cause I would just have a picture of the tree posted, but it is definitely worth the 30 second walk from Koerner. The way the leaves hang is gorgeous as well.
So please, if you have a picture of this gorgeous, yet crazy tree, please post it! Definitely something everyone needs to see at least once in their lives.
This could perhaps be what you mean by the upside down tree:
https://blogs.ubc.ca/genevieve/files/2008/01/img_2035.jpg
Sadly I do not think it is actually an upside down tree, seeing as that is probably biologically impossible.
But it is still an amazing tree.
Oh but Dearest Genevieve – How could Urban Myth EVER lead us astray? 😛
But in all seriousness, look at the branches! That would just take TOO much work to twist them and move them in order to get them to LOOK like roots – cause they totally do!
So, I think we have us a little challenge. We need to find the professor who had this done or some evidence that it is possible, because I totally think it is! Anyone?
I agree with Genevieve – is it biologically plausible to replant a grown tree with its leaves underground and roots in the air, and have it live long enough to develop some crazy adaptation?
The tree’s shape reminds me of the Whomping Willow. Is it a willow tree?
Now I don’t know if this is a case — and the tree does have very rootlike branches, but I thought of another possibility. Or rather, another upside down tree on campus. The upside down tree is very near the (coniferous) tree that is the subject of Rodney Graham’s Millenial Time Machine (Carriage in a glass house on the Buchanan side at the end of the walkway between Koerner and IKB), which, Rodney Graham being Rodney Graham, is upside down when seen from inside the carriage through a camera obscura. However, THE upside down tree is a Camperdown Elm, apparently. Irrefutable proof via Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/37807512@N00/
I have been proven wrong. *bows her head in shame*
A tree planted upside down, with branches beneath the soil and roots in the air, will die. Leaves will not sprout from roots.
The Boab tree, an African species is all appearance and myth, not fact.
Also, Camperdown elm (also known as the “umbrella tree” or “weeping elm”), a sterile species discovered in Dundee, Scotland, is grafted onto the trunk of another species of elm. Camperdown’s limbs are winding, giving the appearance of roots. The graft is typically obvious on the trunk.
Photographs of a Camperdown elm can be seen at