MetaChat - While you were in Vegas, I saw a rainforest!

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26 September 2006

While you were in Vegas, I saw a rainforest!

post by: pieisexactlythree at: 13:55 | 12 comments

You're such a Hoh.

posted by matildaben 26 September | 14:01

Yes, but did this rainforest have video poker?

posted by jonmc 26 September | 14:04

Is that a banana slug?

posted by simbiotic 26 September | 14:15

Is that a banana slug?

I'm pretty sure it is.

posted by pieisexactlythree 26 September | 14:18

Does anyone know what could have caused this?
≡ Click to see image ≡
There were a ton of trees with these ~~humps~~ lumps all along the beach.

posted by pieisexactlythree 26 September | 14:23

Those are burls.

They can be caused by an injury or a fungus. The tree puts out new growth to surround and protect the wound.

Burls are higly prized by woodworkers because they have really interesting patterns on the inside.

posted by mudpuppie 26 September | 14:27

Ooh, interesting article about similarities between tree burls and cancer in humans.

There is enough similarity between the growth of burls on Alaskan spruce trees and the occurrence of some cancer in humans that the two could be different manifestations of the same phenomenon.

posted by mudpuppie 26 September | 14:35

Why so many though? Could it be airborne particles/nuggets of driftwood/very small rocks being hurled into the trunks by winter storms?

posted by pieisexactlythree 26 September | 14:38

Mudpuppie always has the neatest information.

posted by getoffmylawn 26 September | 14:40

More likely bug damage or a fungal infection, Pi. Not something that would limit itself to a single tree.

posted by mudpuppie 26 September | 14:55

Great photos, Pie. I'm so envious! How close were you to the elk herd, by the way?

posted by redvixen 26 September | 18:36

I'm not good at quantifying distances, but I'd have to guess 75 to 100 feet.

posted by pieisexactlythree 26 September | 18:53

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