How are burls formed. A burl is a cool looking extraneous growth on a tree. The vessels are still working and theres still starch storage in the healthy outer parts of the burl so its capable of normal function though im sure that function is diminished. It may be caused by an injury virus or fungus. I love sawing burls and selling them and over the years i have accumulated many different species and varieties of grain patterns spalted eyes flames and curls.
Burls form on tree roots trunks and branches as a result of the abnormal development of bud growth cells. Similar to the human body when a tree undergoes stress gets sick or hurt in any way it can effect it internally and externally. Most burls grow beneath the ground attached to the roots as a type of malignancy that is generally not discovered until the tree dies or falls over. A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress.
Now that we know what burl wood is it is important to understand how they are formed and what causes them. It seems that burls are caused by broken branches insect damage and many other sorts of distress to the tree. Burls are also known as burrs in the us and in the uk the dashboards of jaguars are traditionally made from burr walnut with the lovely swirly patterns typical of burls or burrs. A burl usually grows when the tree is undergoing some stress whether it be an injury virus or fungal infection.
Inside them are buds that sprout if the redwood dies. At the base of a redwood tree sequoia sempervirens are lumpy gnarled growths called burls. The xylem twisted and contorted though it is still seems to do its job of transporting water and nutrients. How to grow a live redwood burl.
Ugly on the outside but magnificent on the inside it can form on any type of tree.