Oak burl exposed by fire

[Lucas]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3841720 ... 310964276/

The fire just burned off the bark, revealing the wild spaghetti grain of a burl. A burl is a malignancy usually caused by injury, viral infection or a fungus. They're typically at the base of the trunk like that one, and result in wild, disorganized growth. The spaghetti looking tubes are what's left of mature xylem tubes, made mostly of lignin. Very beautiful!

Very neat!

[RayA]

I've noticed grain similar to this one several times in oaks.
Here's a photo of a dead oak limb. Hold it at arm's length... you might see an animal in the grain pattern.