what's this?

[Petey]

I saw this 10m up a birch tree. The trunk must be 4-5" at that point...

sounded woody when tested by catapult!

the green flecks are just leaves in the foreground.

Any ideas? I've never seen one before...

 

[Mesquite]

That's a very nice burl you've found. Keep an eye on the tree and should it ever fall grab it

 

[Petey]

fantastic!
I may have a quiet word with someone about acquiring it then!

 

[poddle]

Looks like Chaga, a fungus that can affect birch trees, some use it a medicine, especially in Russia... I think.

That or a good old fashioned Birch Burl, The latter being the favourite

 

[CRAZY FROG]

could it be an over wintered bees nest?

 

[poddle]

Tom Jones's chest wig hanging up to dry? Or the scalp of a large Bison?

 

[marcusleftthesite]

Same as this? Found this one just up the road from me,dont know whether to cut it down when I've got the use of both arms back or not?

 

[Tor helge]

Same as this? Found this one just up the road from me,dont know whether to cut it down when I've got the use of both arms back or not?

If the first pic is the same fenomen as that above it is not a burl, but a Witch's broom.
It is a "disturbance" in the tree that makes the branches grow small and twine together.
The wood inside is mostly worthless, as it will fall apart in small pieces.

Tor

 

[marcusleftthesite]

Thanks Tor,I thought that may be the case in my example,I think the original posters looks a little different?

 

[treelore]

yep it`s a witches broom.....caused buy damage or fungus

 

[addo]

First pic looks like burl.

Marcus's pic - Witches broom.