Hi this is my first post here! I have 3 Stewartia pseudocamellias in a row in my back yard. One of them has developed a band of bumps under the bark and the tree as a whole seems less vigorous this year than the rest beside it. The bark is not exfoliating as it is on the others. I also cut one of the bumps off and it seemed to be woody- no bugs or evidence of an infection to my naked eye. Anyone know what this might be? Cheer and thanks for any help.
Possibly a stem phytophthora as rhododendrons with lumpy (gouty looking) stems in this area get these from such infestations. What's funny is how evenly dispersed the lumps are, as those they are actually a normal part of the tree.
Rhododendrons with stem phytophythora are often quite stunted - although I don't know that the stem infestation is why. And we don't know for sure that you have a pathogen involved with your tree at all.
