Talk:Basal shoot

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What causes suckers to grow? If they stunt growth on the plant, what purpose do they serve the plant? --authraw 02:17, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, this is based on my own observations, and therefore can't be included in the article per WP:OR, but it appears the suckers sap energy from the original, older parts of the plant by developing a great deal of new growth. Horticulturists are often much more interested in maintaining the original growth, particularly in trees. Notice also that stumps and other plants which have lost their apical meristems are most prone to suckering. The purpose seems to be for a plant to renew itself, often but not always in response to trauma. --Ginkgo100 ^{talk · contribs · e@} 20:26, 7 August 2006 (UTC)