Burl

A burl, also known as wood goiter or wrongly as root wood, is a growth on the tree that gives a grained wood.

Nature

Burls are cell growths that are usually triggered by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This removed one with plasmids fragments of their own genome into the cells of higher plants and dissolves in the area of ​​infestation uninhibited growth. The tubers are by a distinct thickening at the base, often seen in the lower stem portion.

Use

Almost always burls are processed into veneer. Burl walnut trees, which often arise in processing bodies ( grafted veins), are mainly used for furniture and interior in luxury automobiles as well as in furniture.

As a very expensive solid wood burl wood for the handles of expensive luxury knives or stilted writing instruments such as pens and fountain pens will be used. Also for the shafts of noble hunting or sporting rifles particularly striking grained hardwood used.

The reddish wood of the growing underground burl of the tree heath Erica arborea comes under the name Bruyère on the market and is used almost exclusively for the production of pipe bowls.