Unusual root growth.

[Gary Prentice]

Came across this growth on an common ash a couple of days ago. The trees situated adjacent to a flagged path and steps but there is no evidence of root severance.

 

The root just ends in this solid sphere. I'm likely going to return to the location next week and will have a dig around it, but for now has anyone any ideas?

[Stubby]

It ran out of money .

[Gary Prentice]

It ran out of money .

 

:lol:

[Gary Prentice]

anyone?

 

152 views and no comments as to the cause of this growth. I'm glad it's not just me who hasn't seen it before.

[JaySmith]

Could it be where the root has been cut/damaged as it looks as though it should extend into the soil between the two other roots. The end of the root now looks like a gall has formed on the end? Could it have been servered and some type of bacterial infection has caused the gall to form?

[treesrus]

it's a burr.

[Gary Prentice]

Could it be where the root has been cut/damaged as it looks as though it should extend into the soil between the two other roots.

From memory, I think the root diameter thinned rapidly from the area visible above the growth. If it had been severed, the diameter would probably been more uniform. I'll get more pics when I go back and remove some soil.

 

The end of the root now looks like a gall has formed on the end?

do you get galls on roots? I can't remember seeing or reading about them. More research necessary on my part.

 

Could it have been servered and some type of bacterial infection has caused the gall to form?

I've no idea. I was hoping that someone with more knowledge than me would reply

 

Edit. It could be a gall, I'll do someone reading.

Edited January 17, 2016 by Gary Prentice

[Gary Prentice]

it's a burr.

 

Pretty certain that it isn't. In that it's unlike any burr I've seen over the last thirty odd years. I may be wrong though.

[JaySmith]

Have a look at http://ipm.illinois.edu/diseases/series1000/rpd1006/

 

There is a little on there about root galls

[Kveldssanger]

If you do go back, take a sharp blade and cut the sphere open - or take a cutting? Really don't know on this one, though it does look gall-like. Something has induced a hormonal change in the ash in that region to induce such growth, and galls do indeed initiate such hormonal changes.