08-19-2026, 01:46 AM
(08-17-2026, 05:29 PM)ironyak Wrote: is there a way to induce 50ft+ ohias to anchor themself to solid lava in thin soils (besides using glue)...
As a spelunker on the island, one knows the roots of Ohia (they're dark purple/red with lighter red tips) well, and often sees them developed into large columns, many inches, a foot in diameter, that reach from the top of a tube to its floor and then burrows even deeper. I've seen these many times, on all sides of the island, and have never seen any other types of tree roots in tubes.
As such, I imagine the Ohias you're looking at are likewise rooted. Even if there's no tube the roots are going deep into, following any crack they can find.. and expanding to get locked into the rock they're penetrating. Of course.. more cracks.. less cracks.. wider/thinner cracks.. in Pahoehoe, Aa.. all sorts of variable to dictate how well that can help support them.. or not.