You will not find this word in it, simply because it does not exist
S(tree)keleton — tree and skeleton — have been combined to coin this word, exclusively for this photo-essay.
Silhouette of a tree against the backdrop of the setting sun is always a photographer’s delight. But, in contrast, it is a painfully tragic story for the tree. Skeletal remains of a tree, providing a photo-op, is actually being strangulated to death, mainly due to aggressive human interference in its life.
If development means obsession with turning every inch of urban space into concrete, then what happens is best exemplified by this picture.
Local civic authorities did obey the rules of not cutting down any live tree.
It may be sheer negligence of municipal bodies not to leave an inch of space on pavements for trees to ‘breath’, but in many other places big trees are done to death by dumping toxic chemicals at their roots.But even while embracing death gracefully and gradually, these skeletal trees often seem to be striking poses for the photographer sometimes…
… as a lady spreading her long hair for drying just after bath… ↑
…or teaching classical dance with the divine ‘Nataraja’ gesture…↑
…or a gymnast stretching her leg upwards ↑
Combined with shades of their own skeletal body, the trees can also create a ghostly ambience.
These dying botanical beings are also great friends of the avians who perch on them, thus creating beautiful spectacles for the lens and the humans behind them.
But, then, this skeletal end need not be the normal fate of these magnificent trees as they can really live for much longer time if left unharmed by human interference.
“Perennial trees can potentially live and grow through their branching roots and stems for hundred years, if left undisturbed and climate conditions are favourable”, said Manabendu Sen, an alumnus of Botany department, Delhi University.
Proof of what Sen said is available in this photograph of a 300-year-old Banyan tree spread over nearly an acre of land in village Kantharpura, about 40 kilometres north-east of Ahmedabad. Apart from adequate rainfall, the only other ‘nutrient’ required for trees to live for a century is absence of human interference. This Banyan tree was lucky on that count ↑ Another example of tree longevity and growth is this huge tree inside Auroville, near Pondicherry ↓
1 thought on “Streekeleton – when trees become skeletons!”
Indeed a very nice illustration with the picture of each skeletal tree. It is a pity that human interference is still going on though there is no dearth of spreading consciousness.
By Rathin Das
…or a gymnast stretching her leg upwards ↑
Indeed a very nice illustration with the picture of each skeletal tree. It is a pity that human interference is still going on though there is no dearth of spreading consciousness.