BURL

A 'burl' (British "burr") is a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds. Burls are the product of a cambium.
The famous birdseye maple superficially resembles the wood of a burl but is something else entirely.
Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood. There are a number of famous burls (each from a particular species); these are highly valued and used as veneers in furniture, picture frames, household objects, automobile interior paneling and trim, and woodturning.
In some tree species, burls can grow to great size. Some of the largest occur in redwoods (''Sequoia sempervirens''); when moisture is present, these burls can grow new redwood trees.
The world's largest and second-largest burls can be found in Port McNeill, British Columbia.
One of the largest burls known to man was found around 1984 in the small town of Tamworth, Australia. It stands 6.4 ft tall with an odd growth resembling a trombone.

Contents

Gallery

Gallery