Treasure in the Disease; Black Cherry Burl

Burl on a Black Cherry tree in Vernon

The backside of a burl on a Black Cherry

Side view of the burl

Sap oozing from the burl

What if I  told you that in nature, sometimes the twisted, sick and diseased can be the most prized for its beauty? That sounds pretty strange doesn't it; but it's true. Take this burl I have been passing by on my daily commute here in Vernon. I had been meaning to stop and take a closer look for a couple of years now and only recently took the time to do so. This particular oozing globular growth did not disappoint in evoking a sense of antipathy.

Though the outside of a burl is a gnarly grotesque swelling; a whole burl, burl veneer, burl jewelry,  burl sculptures and the like command a nice price on many online shopping sites.  Woodworkers prize its dense decorative grain, yet its relative structural weakness makes it of little utilitarian use with the exception of decorative bowls and vessels. When it comes to burls (and geodes), I can't help but be reminded of the old idiom, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

The thing about burls is that they can kill the tree if they become too large; and likewise, if a treasure hunter tries to remove a too large burl, that too could kill the tree. So the price of a burl could involve more than a dollar value. It is also in part their rarity that increases their value to wood worker artisans and prompts entrepreneurs to indiscriminately harvest burls.

Though its not clearly known what causes the exact burl on on any given tree, Black Knot Fungal disease is a known culprit in trees that produce fruit with pits. The fungus is spread from tree to tree in the early spring when conditions are wet and new twigs are emerging. I suspect that this is the case for the Black Cherry tree that I had stopped to investigate. Another thought is that burls are caused by a mass of dormant buds or even insects. The importance in knowing the cause involves preventing and stopping the spread of disease. Careful management of trees with Black Knot is necessary lest it rapidly spreads throughout the area damaging fruit bearing trees. -Norma Manning
sources:
ncpr Burl: by Curt Stager and Martha Foley
Black Knot: by Planet Natural Research Center