Yes, the saga continues. Today I am making good on my promise to explore the term “drupelike” seeds and “tree allies” which we uncovered in our exploration of coniferous trees.

Drupelike, you’re up. Let’s go to the dictionary.

Okay, the word “drupelike” isn’t in the Oxford dictionary. Maybe its slangy because the word “like” is attached. The word drupe in a noun related to botany: a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a central stone containing the seed, e.g., a plum, cherry, almond, or olive.

So a coniferous tree with drupelike seeds is exactly that: a tree that encases its reproductive structure, the seed, in some sort of appendage such as a fruit, a pine cone, an almond, etc., which literally drupes from the trees braches. Hence the name drupelike.

Tree Allies would refer to a category of trees that are in a ranked vegetation classification which comprising one or more closely related associations. So, sister-like trees which share some of the same characteristics.

So basically, the words drupelike and tree allies weren’t very exciting at all. The only reason I’m going to post this is because I promised to follow up. And you can count on Monster Tree Service to make good on its’ promises! As the saying goes, accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue. We’ll have more fun next time.