In my backyard there is a stately cedar elm. I like this tree even though it harbors flocks of birds that poop richly all over anything that doesn’t move; sometimes even if moving. One of its characteristics is that it will drop branches after a stiff wind. The morning after some exciting weather I picked up the aftermath and found these. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like these growths before. (Occasionally after a frost some annuals will ooze ice crystals from their destroyed stems that have a similar form…. different origin and material, though.) This seems to be the result of a mutation. Sure strange things happens in a lot of plants, but what is it that gives rise to this shape on opposing sides of the branch, with striated woody layers showing and all?
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hey J L
its a shelf fungus growing on the branches…the striations occur naturally…in this example though its really superbly angular, and could be preserved ( in a resin or epoxy , and then shaped further if desired into “stones”, cabs, etc.), but, yep, a fungus, in fact edible- but only if you are really really desperate! the flavour is rather “woody” and non-appetizing, but you see the same formation in the souther appalachian mts. from TN to NC to KY ( and maybe higher into PA and NY- i’ve only seen it in those areas , the lower elevations ( well if you consider 5,000ft., lower!) of the range and then occurring in arkansas around the hot springs area as well..it starts from spores so i guess can travel where the air, animals and birds carry the spore..anyway real interesting, it should feel woody and not squishy for months until it gets waterlogged when exposed to prolonged rains..after redrying, it may loose some structural tensegrity though..oh, and the coloursof the “striations” can vary with the minerals in the air,water and soil….from my past life as a botanist..
I do keep up with you and your work […]