Identify something that was attached to a tree

Apr 19, 2020

No idea
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

I’m assuming you are in Sydney, Australia. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with plants ‘down under’ so this one is new to me. What it looks like is possibly something like ‘witches broom’ which is actually part of the host tree (whatever it was growing on) that becomes deformed by the fungus or bacterial infection of the witches broom.

What I might try is cutting one open to see if possibly it’s got an insect growing inside it. That would indicate that it’s a ‘gall’ which means you’ll have adult insects checking out the tree at various times.

Without more information, such as what type of tree, and more images of the ‘things’ I don’t know what else to tell you.

The best place to ask would be at your agricultural extension office (when it reopens if they’re on isolation) so take more pictures, and hopefully they’ll be able to set your mind at ease. The people working there would be more familiar with your local plants and conditions so they can give you a better answer.

Sorry I couldn’t help much.