Walking through the garden, the boy next to me enthusiastically shouted “Mom, look at the face …”, looking around, there was no one next to us except old trees with burls formed on them.

Caps on trees appear for various reasons, and more often this is a protective reaction against the introduction of pathogens or mechanical damage.

A cap is a growth (even rather an influx) on the trunk or root of a tree, the development of which is always accompanied by the formation of a large number of dormant buds. Sleeping buds may remain unopened for a long time, but small branches may begin to grow from them. The burl is always covered with rough bark. The dormant burl buds are adnexal, that is, they are formed in the cambium, an educational tissue that ensures the growth of the stem in thickness. The kidneys produce a large amount of the phytohormone auxin, which stimulates the formation of new adnexal buds. The emergence of a large number of buds leads to an increase in the concentration of growth substances and, as a result, to the formation of a cap.

Their appearance is more typical for deciduous trees, and on coniferous trees – a rarity. Burls can form on birches, maples, elms, lindens and other tree species. Burl wood of some species is valued in folk crafts for its strength and decorative properties.

And in the Summer Garden, a large number of centuries-old lindens have burls for a completely different reason. This is a consequence of the molding trimmings of the 18th century. Since dormant buds provide partial restoration of the crown, not only due to damage, but also after crown pruning. It should be noted that linden has fairly soft wood, and the formation of burls significantly reduces the mechanical strength of the tree trunk.

Now you know what kind of growths are on the most ordinary lindens, but do not forget, the trees can also peep behind you 🤫