Winged cork on tree bark

[Paul Barton]

Saw a good example of these corky ribs on a young field maple today - not seen it so pronounced before, particularly next to stems of the same age that are smooth.

 

I must confess I don't know what causes it. Anyone else?

[Paul Barton]

I guess not then!

[David Humphries]

Not seen it on field maple myself Paul

 

Maybe a regional variation?

 

Usually note it on Elm

 

 

Found this, though perhaps not overly informative

 

 

"Corky wings. One diagnostic character is the presence of corky wings on young stems. In some cases, wings are due to stimulation of localized phellogens along a stem angle, as in winged euonymus (Euonymus alata). Wings also occur on young stems of sweet gum (Liquidambar). Longitudinal splitting is the cause of stem wings in certain species of elm (Ulmus)"

 

Bark Features

 

 

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[Amelanchier]

Nope. I just know that it's also common on Ulmus minor and Euonymous alatus. I think the literature has described the mechanism of its formation but not its utility to the tree though it seems reasonable to imagine it serves as extra protection from herbivores.

 

Interesting that it is expressed in several genus though huh?

[daltontrees]

I have seen it on a few young A. campestre around Glasgow, but it is not always present. Don't know what it's for though.

[RobArb]

I see quite a bit on A. campestre here in theNorth West. Maybe it is regional as David suggests?

 

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[sloth]

Very common around my way, especially around the rural areas getting toward suffolk. Mostly on flailed hedges I reckon....

 

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[HCR]

Botanical Gazette, 1888 Development of Cork-Wings on Certain Trees II

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[Goaty]

In field grown stock on nurseries it can be smooth or fluted. Wildly varies in the same row, It seems random, another possibility is it a grafted union, though hard to tell. There are several forms of grafted field maple for street trees.

Several nurseries also sell their reject plants with poor form for hedging or as multistem specimens, which means occasionally you will get the rootstock and grafted form on one plant. A close up of the stem in the contrast region should help.

[Paul Barton]

Thanks for the info all. I'll have a read of that journal soon HCR.

 

It's not clear from the photos that both stems emanate from the same tree at the base. It was the difference between two stems of the same tree that intrigued me!