What's this tree and what's going on with it? (1 Viewer)

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Staff member

Opus Editor

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• Sep 9, 2018

• #1

Taken in the grounds of Skipness Castle in May.

I don't know what to call the big lump, what's caused it do you think.

I've got a picture of the leaf too. But on my sister's advice took a close-up of where the stem meets the leaf, as she thought that could be important sometimes with the ID.

 

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  BF Tree leaf for ID 300518.jpg

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  BF Tree leaf close-up for ID 300518.jpg

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Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 9, 2018

• #2

Wych Elm Ulmus glabra.

A burl on the trunk - a sort of 'messy' outgrowth of wood often (not always) with lots of small sprout shoots on it. Wood carvers often pay high sums for them as they have very intricate wood grain inside.

 

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Staff member

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Sep 9, 2018

• #3

Thanks Michael.

Wych Elm, of course. I thought the leaf looked like an elm.

Do you know what causes those burls, is it some sort of damage, or does it just 'happen'?

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 10, 2018

• #4

Just happens - no idea what causes it!

 

foresttwitcher

Virtually unknown member

• Sep 10, 2018

• #5

Could perhaps be some imbalance in the auxins that control cell differentiation & growth.

 

Last edited: Sep 10, 2018

Corvus cornix

Well-known member

• Sep 10, 2018

• #6

Just found this on wikipedia

A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. ... Almost all burl wood is covered by bark, even if it is underground. Insect infestation and certain types of mold infestation are the most common causes of this condition.
Burl - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burl

Cheers,

Matt