DISEASE OR STRESS COULD BE TO BLAME FOR BURLS

As you glance up into tree limbs, perhaps searching for some sign of spring in a swelling flower bud, your sight might be arrested by fat, rounded growths on the bark. On some trees, these hard, woody outgrowths — called burls — stand out on an otherwise clear trunk like a goitre. On other trees, the whole trunk might be covered with these masses. If you’ve never noticed these growths before, don’t be alarmed. They cause little or no harm to the tree. That said, burls might indicate that the tree has been under stress. Diseases have also been held responsible for burls. We could also blame genetics. Redwoods are renowned for their burls, which are often sold as souvenirs.