Large Burl on Birch Tree

[Harvestman]

Wow that’s quite a specimen Harvestman, it looks like that is the result of pollarding, what’s the tree, is it ash? -- I saw a great old pollarded oak tree near the Kymin by Monmouth a couple of years ago which is unusual because it actually shows on the OS map (it’s about one kilometre east of the kymin on the left hand side of the A4136 by Broadstone farm) Thanks for posting

I'm not sure what it is. I had a look but didn't come to a conclusion.

 

[Joonsy]

I'm not sure what it is. I had a look but didn't come to a conclusion.

it's a black poplar harvestman, i've just found it on the woodland trust site, and yes it is the result of pollarding as i suspected, here's the photo on wd site

 

[Harvestman]

it's a black poplar harvestman, i've just found it on the woodland trust site, and yes it is the result of pollarding as i suspected, here's the photo on wd site

That's great! Thank you. Black Poplar are not common locally, and are well known for their gnarly 'bosses' on the trunk. Incidentally, their bark is Mors Kochanski's preferred bearing block for fire by friction.

I'm pleased that my tree identification instincts held up too. It didn't look right for anything common.

 

[Joonsy]

That's great! Thank you. Black Poplar are not common locally, and are well known for their gnarly 'bosses' on the trunk. Incidentally, their bark is Mors Kochanski's preferred bearing block for fire by friction.

I'm pleased that my tree identification instincts held up too. It didn't look right for anything common.

no it's not a common tree any more, a very good find, that's interesting about the bearing block too, thankyou for sharing

 

[TallTom]

Here's one in Lisbon.

Although I'm not sure wether it's a burl

 

[Harvestman]

Here's one in Lisbon.

Although I'm not sure wether it's a burl

Wow! What an amazing tree.

 

[Joonsy]

Here's one in Lisbon.

blooming heck that's incredible TallTom if it was more remote it would be a target for the burl bandits (i'm not kidding there really is such a thing, well in california anyhow burl bandits ) Thanks for posting.

 

[TallTom]

blooming heck that's incredible TallTom if it was more remote it would be a target for the burl bandits (i'm not kidding there really is such a thing, well in california anyhow burl bandits ) Thanks for posting.

Your welcome, I recently saw a program involving burl hunters, after hearing what some went for I though there must be some black market stuff, I called it burl poaching at the time, but Burl Bandits has a much better ring to it.

Here's the other side, just because.

 

[Porschephile]

I found loads about the size of those OP's pics here near Tunbridge Wells. Funnily enough they're on land belonging to the 'Burrswood' Estate, no idea if there's a connection. The valley remains very damp even in the middle of summer, good for keeping the dog cool when it's normally too hot for a walk.

Quick question (not that I'm going to do it!) - does removing them kill the tree?

 

[Macaroon]

Quick question (not that I'm going to do it!) - does removing them kill the tree?

I think you'll find that that will depend on a lot of different factors; health of the tree, climate, time of year you cut and how big the burl is in relation to the tree size. It wouldn't be a problem with the larger ones as there wouldn't be much tree left to damage

We have members here with a much greater depth of knowledge than me, perhaps you'll get one of those along to answer this one.

 

[Harvestman]

Your welcome, I recently saw a program involving burl hunters, after hearing what some went for I though there must be some black market stuff, I called it burl poaching at the time, but Burl Bandits has a much better ring to it.

Here's the other side, just because.

Do you know what sort of tree it is, as in species?

 

[TallTom]

Do you know what sort of tree it is, as in species?

With a little research I have discovered it's a lemon tree, and over a century old, probably brought over from brazil.

 

[Mesquite]

If you want to see large burls you should check out Redwood Burls...

 

[TallTom]

With a little research I have discovered it's a lemon tree, and over a century old, probably brought over from brazil.

Edit:
I found a photo I took of a plaque on the tree. Translated it and it's not a lemon tree.
The Americans call it Poke berry or poke weed, the translation from the plaque said the common name was beautiful shadow, which I much prefer. Latin name, Phytolacca L. (Http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca)

Sorry for the miss-information

 

[Joonsy]

Edit:
I found a photo I took of a plaque on the tree. Translated it and it's not a lemon tree.
The Americans call it Poke berry or poke weed, the translation from the plaque said the common name was beautiful shadow, which I much prefer. Latin name, Phytolacca L. (Http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytolacca)

Sorry for the miss-information

Thanks for the update TallTom From reading the wiki link i see the tree is the species ''Ombu'' Phytolacca Dioica. It's amazing how nature creates things to cope with particular environments, apparently the large base is normal for the species to allow for high water storage which makes therm resilient to fires and drought in it's natural habitat, apparently it is the only tree-like plant that lives on the Pampas where it is often known as ''Lighthouses'' because it provides shade. The leaves can be used for a hot drink. Thankyou for posting Talltom, most interesting. here is another link with more information on the tree, ATB [SIZE=+4][SIZE=+1]

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ombu.htm
[/SIZE]

[/SIZE]

 

[dabberty]

This one I found during a hike a couple of weeks ago here in the Czech Republic:

 

[Harvestman]

This one I found during a hike a couple of weeks ago here in the Czech Republic:

That's not a tree. That's something Lovecraftian!

 

[Joonsy]

This one I found during a hike a couple of weeks ago here in the Czech Republic:

WOW, Another tremendous specimen, thankyou for posting Dabberty (is it Beech ?) --- knowing nothing about the Czech Republic I did a bit of a google and accidentally discovered your blog Dabberty about the trip where that burl was found, I also watched the vid about the trip. What a fantastic trip you had, those ancient ruins are really amazing, what is it’s past history. I guess the gun fortifications are from WW2 ?. Perhaps that deer losing blood had been shot and injured, if so the shot was well off target if it hit the back leg (rifle shot ? or something else, don’t know hunting laws there). Nice to see that big burl on the vid at 4:28 and also the second burl too at 7:30. The Czech Republic looks fantastic. Thankyou very much for posting, I thoroughly enjoyed both blog and vid. ATB

Dabberty’s blog, large burl is shown on photo 19, other photos excellent too:-

http://dabberty.com/

Dabberty’s 3 day trip:- (burl is at 4:28 but the whole vid is great):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpKPYNQb2SY

 

[Yorkshirewanderer]

Thought i would resurrect this thread to post a picture of one i found this weekend at my local National Trust site

 

[petrochemicals]

heres one from the other day, so shall i nick it ? On birch so is that better ?


the trunk was about a foot wide.