What is this? Woody growth, maze like.

Discussion in 'Woody Plants' started by Phyll, Nov 10, 2009.

  1. Phyll

    Phyll Member

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    Hello I'm a Bio student at UNCA I found this thing in the mountains close to the GA/NC border. I've looked and asked in several places and cant figure out what it is.

    Thanks so much for the help!

    Phyll
     

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    Last edited: Nov 10, 2009
  2. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Looks like a burl of some kind.
     
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Yes -- a very amazing one, I should add. I think I'd spend quite some time photographing it.
     
  4. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Yes, would be interesting to know what kind of wood, wondering about possibly pine or spruce.
     
  5. Phyll

    Phyll Member

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    Cool thanks for the help!

    Is it likely a burl would be in different shape than the tree it was growing from? The tree it was on was rotting and the structure seemed independent.
     
  6. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Yes.
     
  7. Phyll

    Phyll Member

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    Think it would be worth some money? :)
     
  8. Barbara Lloyd

    Barbara Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    Phyll,
    What does your Prof. or others in that field at your school think of it? Have you contacted anyone with your local Forrest Service? I think you need to keep looking for someone knowledgeable enough to identify this item, and put it to it highest and best use. Please don't give up, you have been given a mystery - solve it! That is what school is all about. barb
     
  9. Phyll

    Phyll Member

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    Thanks for the words of encouragement barb! One professor is unsure of what it is and hasn't seen anything quite like it. Unfortunately the pictures were taken a while ago and I only have a general idea of where it is and no idea if it is still there. I'm trying to figure out if it is worthy of a 6 hour round trip and strenuous 6-8 hour hike to find it again.
     
  10. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Don't know, but have seen a somewhat similar one , about 30-35 cm. { 12"-14"} across .Thought n oil finish of some kind might look good and protect it from drying out at the time.
     
  11. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

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    Woodworkers would pay quite a bit of money for large burls.

    If you could retrieve it without doing yourself harm, you might find a buyer. An artist acquaintance online said he was offered several hundred US dollars for a burl the size of a garbage can.
     
  12. M. D. Vaden

    M. D. Vaden Active Member 10 Years

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    Reminds me a bit of the one in this attached image, of a live burl. Like a bunch of them all packed on one over the other. This is just a partial view of one part of the cluster. Have no idea what the inside would look like.
     

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  13. togata57

    togata57 Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Phyll, your burl is beautiful.

    Would one of the learned Forum members please describe the process by which this phenomenon occurs?
     

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