Not 100% sure...

[Xerxses]

Hi guys!

I need some advise....

Sorry about pics, difficult light and only mobile camera.

This Birch is situated in a "valley" or a hollow in a outdoormuseum with a sensitive target underneath and a bridge on the otherside (from where the pics are taken) The target is an old watermill from early 1600....

and on third side Highvoltage powerlines

Anyway...

I think it is a "Burr"(?) if that is the right word, only thing is that I have never seen one like this. It looks like it is coming out of the tree, rather than growing on the side of the tree. It covers ca 70-80% of the trees circumference with sound exposed wood on one spot. There is some loose bark around the "canker" hence my feeling of it portruding, rather than growing on the stem.

Can it be anything else?

Does it affect stability of the tree, possibility of breakage?

The tree is BIG! The burr/canker is ca 6 meters up, and another 6 meters up the tree divides into three stems. BIG windsail!

 

Ideas/advise?

 

Thanks!

//Tobi

[Mike Hill]

I have seen many of these.Unless the Burls had grown to enormous size they generally did not contain any Rot.In the case of Rot being present,it was always in the Burl and not the stem of the Tree.I used to collect them from trees that we felled and sell them to a wood turner.

 

I have never seen a Birch that failed at the point that the Burl had grown from.However thats just my experiance.

Edited March 21, 2009 by Mike Hill
forgot some content

[Xerxses]

I have seen many of these.Unless the Burls had grown to enormous size they generally did not contain any Rot.In the case of Rot being present,it was always in the Burl and not the stem of the Tree.I used to collect them from trees that we felled and sell them to a wood turner.

 

I have never seen a Birch that failed at the point that the Burl had grown from.However thats just my experiance.

 

Ah so thats how you spell it! Burl, will remember that.

I´ve been collecting them as well...its only that this one looks slighty different from the other ones.

It also has several lumps growing in the outer perimeter of the crown...same thing?

Any idea what causes these?

Different from "brooms" that are caused by insects -lumps with loads of twigs on them.

So its definatley a burl theres no funghus that looks like this?

 

Thanks Mike!

 

Anyone else with a different opinion?