AUSTIN (KXAN) — The future of a popular leaning pecan tree in Barton Springs, referred to as Flo, is unknown because the City of Austin stated it’s listening to enter from its residents on what to do subsequent.
The metropolis’s parks and recreation division introduced it was delaying the scheduled celebration of life and removing of Flo final week. A spokesperson for town stated, “Austin Parks and Recreation values input from the public regarding concerns about removal and the Department is pausing to consider communications from the community.”
The tree suffers from a fungus referred to as Kretzschmaria deusta, which is often known as the brittle cinder fungus. The fungus degrades the wooden of the tree and causes it to break down below its personal weight. Lab outcomes confirmed the presence of brittle cinder fungus in August.
Flo is doomed
Dr. David Appel, a professor within the plant pathology and microbiology division at Texas A&M University, stated sadly Flo is doomed. There is not any remedy to avoid wasting the tree.
“It is going to fall down or someone is going to have to take it down,” Dr. Appel defined.
Dr. Appel stated the fungus has been within the tree for many years, slowly degrading its construction. It is probably going that different fungi are including to the degradation as properly, Dr. Appel stated.
Since it’s positioned in such a closely trafficked and popular spot, Dr. Appel recommends the tree be eliminated.
“In order to judge a hazardous tree we also have to consider is there a target that would be injured or hurt, or damaged, from a tree like this, and it just unfortunately that Flo happens to be in a very public place right here with people that are very unsuspecting,” Dr. Appel stated.
The metropolis of Austin has positioned helps below Flo and positioned signage across the tree that warns folks to keep away from the world.
KXAN reached out to town over the weekend to get an replace on the future plans for Flo, however has not heard again.
