The Burl-esque Beauty of Trees!
Burls (also known as burrs) are abnormal growths on the trunks of trees, usually caused by stress conditions in which dormant buds form a swelling in the cambium. Sometimes growing to a large size, and containing peculiarly grained wood that is prized by sculptors, burls bring a distinctive beauty and character to the trees on which they grow.
 Burl on an aspen tree (Populus tremula) in spring on Dundreggan.  Dyer's mazegill fungus (Phaeolus schweinitzii) and burl on a Scots pine near Coire Loch in Glen Affric.  Burl on a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) on the north shore of Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin in Glen Affric. |
 Burl on a downy birch tree (Betula pubescens) in Glen Affric.  Heart-shaped burl on an old Scots pine near Coire Loch in Glen Affric. Remarkably, there's a young pine seedling growing out of this burl! |
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