On local willow trees there are numbers of dark coloured 
growths. I know that birch trees get these, but they look 
different. The birch trees seem to sprout a new set of shoots 
at an uncommon place.
These dark growths seem dead to me.
I looked closely at one. The twig leading to the growth was 
about 1 cm. long. The whole growth length was about 10 cm.
long and about 5 cm. wide. There were small twiglike points 
sticking out, but no sign of leaves there or dead ones either.
The willow trees were healthy.
I wonder if it is caused by an insect?

Miles

hi miles

I believe this sort of growth is often caused by a bacterial infection 
interfearing with the trees growth hormones

Alan
"Miles - Nature"  wrote in message 
news:fc19d5$rjs$1@aioe.org...
> On local willow trees there are numbers of dark coloured growths. I know 
> that birch trees get these, but they look different. The birch trees seem 
> to sprout a new set of shoots at an uncommon place.
> These dark growths seem dead to me.
> I looked closely at one. The twig leading to the growth was about 1 cm. 
> long. The whole growth length was about 10 cm.
> long and about 5 cm. wide. There were small twiglike points sticking out, 
> but no sign of leaves there or dead ones either.
> The willow trees were healthy.
> I wonder if it is caused by an insect?
>
> Miles
>