This month’s photo topic was “Tree Knot’s and the photo was taken by photographer Sue Donohue during a recent visit to Dorrigo National Park.
‘During a 3 day stay in Dorrigo, I discovered the many wonderful waterfalls, trees and wildlife that the National Park had to offer. A truly beautiful and magical place.
Thinking ahead to the November Topic, I was able to photography many tree knots and Burls but this gigantic tree Burl was just amazing.
A burl is defined as a rounded outgrowth on a tree that is usually woody and deformed. Burls can be small or large, and they often have an irregular shape. While they may look similar to tumours, they are actually benign growths that occur in response to different environmental stresses. Burls are typically found on the trunk or branches of trees, but they can also occur on the roots.
Burls are composed of many small fibres that are all growing in different directions. This gives them a unique appearance, and it also makes them very strong. Burls can be very hard to break, and this added strength is one of the main benefits that they offer to the trees that produce them.
Tree burls are not always smooth. The burl of a tree can be bumpy with a cauliflower texture, or it can appear in a donut shape, circling the base of a branch.
The interior burl wood forms swirls that are particularly lovely. They are highly sought after by woodworkers and can be quite valuable being worth up to $7000.
This Burl for all the world looks like a man’s face. Can you see him?’
For information about the Myall U3A Photography Group please email the Groups Convenor Paul at mulvaney@bigpond.com.
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