The weeping plums are in full bloom.  Seen from the distance, it looks like a red fountain spouting from the earth.  There are many other plants that are named “weeping”, such as weeping cherry blossoms or weeping willow. Most hardwood forests have the possibility of weeping. However, many trees spread branches toward the top and die when the branches hang down.  It seems that the mechanism is how the annual rings are made. Therefore, since trees have branches because they receive sunlight efficiently, so   it’s okey to hang down.  Since there are also weeping persimmons and weeping peaches, “weeping” should have many benefits for plants, and it seems that the mechanism of “weeping” is not really understood.

枝垂れ梅が見事な花を咲かせています。遠目には大地から噴き出た赤い噴水の様です。枝垂れ桜に枝垂れ柳、「枝垂れ」と名を冠する植物は他にも沢山あります。広葉樹林のほとんどは枝垂れる可能性があるそうです。しかし多くの木は上に枝を張り、枝が垂れてくると枯れます。そのメカニズムは年輪の出来方にあるそうですが、木が枝を張るのは太陽光を効率的に受ける仕組みですから、枝を下に垂れてもいい訳です。枝垂れ柿や枝垂れ桃などもありますから、「枝垂れ」は植物にとってもメリットが多いはずで、「枝垂れ」のメカニズムは本当のところは分かっていない様です。