|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 12:59:44 GMT -5
Just back from a trip with a buddy to Big South Fork Rec Area in Tenn.
We passed through KY and from around Lexington down to Somerset on 27, mostly, kept noticing trees with strange looking round things in their limbs that appeared to be comprised of twigs that were grown into round balls of dense growth, about half again the size of basketballs. We could still easily see through the round twig formations, but they were dense enough to be very obvious among the leafless branches.
Couldn't determine if all the trees with these growths in their limbs were the same variety or not. Most appeared as though they could be, and were usually maybe eight or ten inch diameter trees that my buddy thought looked like ash. A few were larger diameter older trees and appeared darker and somewhat "gnarly" in their upper trunks.
They were both in roadside areas and draws and in yards.
Couldn't see any vines or alien growths going up the trunks, the balls of twigs appeared to be the twigs of the trees themselves rather some attached parasite plant.
We were curious but didn't have time to stop or any idea where to find the info to satisfy our curiosity. Didn't notice any more such balls of twig growth as we continued home through Louisville.
Anyone know what we were seeing?
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 13:03:56 GMT -5
I should add that the numbers of these ball-shaped growths varied from one or two per tree to maybe twenty on a few larger and older trees.
My guess was some sort of result from injury by a parasite insect, but that's only a guess.
|
|
|
|
Post by throbak on Feb 28, 2013 13:24:58 GMT -5
were they green ?? Mistletoe if they were
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 13:27:35 GMT -5
Looked quite dark against the sky. Appeared to be twigs of the trees they were growing on, rather than a parasitic invader, but couldn't be sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 13:38:25 GMT -5
Checked out mistletoe pics I could find. They look like they tend to hang below the branches they are growing on. The balls we saw were about the size of the mistletoe, but looked like they were growing more atop the branch, and had more sturdy twig growth forming the ball. There no leave or greenery to be seen on the ball-shaped growths, just twigs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Feb 28, 2013 13:40:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by goosepondmonster on Feb 28, 2013 13:50:20 GMT -5
Without a picture I can't be sure, but if it is what I think it is I was told that it is some type of insect that does it and it doesn't harm the tree.
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 14:03:45 GMT -5
Woody, these weren't solid like the oak galls, but rather round balls formed by the twigs, about 14' or so diameter. The twigs themselves that formed the ball may have been a quarter inch diameter on down to to very small.
GPM , that's sorta my guess as well. Just seemed right from their locations and distribution.
|
|
|
|
Post by dadfsr on Feb 28, 2013 14:17:00 GMT -5
Russ-I'm not real sure what you were seeing either.
Without knowing the species of tree or even having a picture I'm really hesitating to even give a halfa... guess.
I've sent your description to the professor (Sally Weeks) that teaches our silvaculture/dendrology classes up here-maybe she has a more educated opinion on what you saw. She's out around the midwest more than I could hope to ever be so maybe she's even seen what you are describing. Will let you know if I hear back from her.
|
|
|
|
Post by DEERTRACKS on Feb 28, 2013 14:55:03 GMT -5
Since you were down south. Ball Moss maybe?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 15:25:38 GMT -5
Lots of mistletoe in that area. When you went through the towns of Pine Knot and Strunk, Ky, you were within 7 miles of the property I own down there.
|
|
|
|
Post by goosepondmonster on Feb 28, 2013 15:39:05 GMT -5
A lot of the trees on my grandma's property have the balls like what you're explaining.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 15:39:43 GMT -5
Probably a hawks nest. I would have to think that Russ knows what mistletoe looks like?
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 16:21:32 GMT -5
Actually, much more familiar with hawk nests than with mistletoe. I didn't even know that mistletoe grew in balls up in the trees like that until seeing it on the net after GPM's suggestion above. But I've seen hawk nests all my life. These were definitely not nests, but something growing up there into the ball shaped objects.
I think the damage from insects is probably going to be the most likely cause, if we ever do find out.
Looking forward to the dendrologist's reply. I never knew there was a job known as dendrologist, either 8^).
Learning something every day. Trouble is, I forget two somethings most days.
|
|
|
|
Post by Russ Koon on Feb 28, 2013 16:26:35 GMT -5
Metamorahunter, I remember seeing those names on the signs coming into the towns. A girl I went to school with married a Strunk, and I kind of got a chuckle out of the Pine Knot name, being almost Hollywood-country, like our own Gnawbone, or the the township where I finished school, Beanblossom.
|
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Feb 28, 2013 17:22:51 GMT -5
Sounds like what they call in Florida as "air plants"
|
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Feb 28, 2013 17:33:34 GMT -5
Squirrel nests? ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2013 17:44:45 GMT -5
The story behind the name of Pine Knot is that an old lady used to have a little produce stand at the crossroads there and she'd sell provisions to travelers on horseback. Legend has it, sometimes these travelers would get a day or two down the road and discover that the horse feed they bought there was only horse feed at the top of the bucket...the bottom half was filled up with pine knots. Buyer beware in Pine Knot!  |
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Feb 28, 2013 17:48:40 GMT -5
air plants  |
|
|
|
Post by raporter on Feb 28, 2013 21:17:28 GMT -5
I would still think it is Mistletoe. Was down to LBL a week or so ago and they were visible everywhere. We have some in our area here in Indiana.
|
|
