Funny Maple

[tooln]

I have several that are deformed, this is the most unusual.

 

[Don'tWorryIHuggedItFirst]

Called a burl. Some people turn them into bowls and such.

 

[West Branch]

That is where the money is
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/03/burl-bandits-swiping-valuable-tree-part-from-boston-parks/

 

[Jim Timber]

It's a canker.

 

[bat man]

I burned a big pile of those under some tin at my place.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I think Jim's right. Burls aren't eaten out and full of big voids like that. I believe a burl is just a big " lump " at the base or on the trunk of a tree with no - or small - voids in it.

 

[tooln]

I'm not sure on this one. I have several trees that have burls. This is different as it opens up, kind of like several burls that grew together.

 

[wiscwhip]

I don't believe those to be burls either, at least that is not what we call burls. That is an injury that is usually caused by a fungal infection, and the tree produces extra growth in that area to try and encapsulate the intruder, thus causing the large growth like canker.