# How can one determine a tree stump is alive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2019, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659 "2019-07-26T07:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/1 "2019-07-26T07:40:56Z")
This [story](https://phys.org/news/2019-07-tree-stump-dead-alive.html) is about a couple scientists hiking in the woods and coming across a tree stump that, improbably, was still alive. The stump was not showing any greenery, so it wasn’t coppiced. I’m trying to figure out how they could tell. What signs of life does a living tree stump show? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/2 "2019-07-26T10:38:16Z")
Signs of growth or repair around the bits that were cut/broken? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/3 "2019-07-26T11:24:10Z")
> [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](#): > > Signs of growth or repair around the bits that were cut/broken? That’s what I see in the picture in the link. Of course, it’s no definite proof of life – the tree stump could have died long after – but it would be enough to raise my suspicion to the level of making a small cut, to see if there would ooze sap or resin from it! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/4 "2019-07-26T11:46:01Z")
Better article [here](https://gizmodo.com/undead-tree-stump-is-being-kept-alive-by-neighboring-tr-1836693364/amp). > [@](#): > > Leuzinger and Bader stumbled upon the stump while out for a hike. The woody stub caught their eye because callus tissue could be seen growing over its dead and rotting parts. It was also producing resin, which indicated the presence of living tissue. This prompted a more thorough investigation in which the researchers measured water flowing through the tissues of the stump, and also its rate of respiration, which matched those seen in the surrounding trees. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/5 "2019-07-26T14:27:37Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > This [story](https://phys.org/news/2019-07-tree-stump-dead-alive.html) is about a couple scientists hiking in the woods and coming across a tree stump that, improbably, was still alive. The stump was not showing any greenery, so it wasn’t coppiced. I’m trying to figure out how they could tell. What signs of life does a living tree stump show? If you can determine it is a stump from a Locust tree, you know it’s still alive. I cut one down 5+ years ago and it is still sending up suckers all over the place. It’s the Walking Dead of trees. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-determine-a-tree-stump-is-alive/837659/6 "2019-07-26T15:06:57Z")
Maybe it’s a Norwegian blue spruce. Lovely foliage. It’s probably just pining ( 🙂 ) for the fjords.