Maple Burl is not a species, but a rare growth formation that develops on a maple tree in response to injury, infection, insects, or environmental stress. As the tree attempts to heal and protect itself, new growth emerges in multiple directions, creating a dense mass of intertwined fibers rather than the linear grain of a typical trunk. Unpredictable and impossible to reliably induce, burls occur in only a small number of trees. Often described as the tree's record of survival, each burl is a unique expression of adaptation, resilience, and accumulated growth.
Collected in 2024