What are these stacks on the trunk of this tree (pic included)?

Question

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2483711516_96cebafcde_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/2483706824_bbc2f2f649_b.jpg

The tree had these stacks all over itself...my friend joked and said it was cancer.

Thanks for your help!!

Answer 1

Many strange growths on plants are induced by insect damage. 'What's that Bug' site is run by entomologists who will help ID this type or thing.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/galls.html

Those are very interesting images.

Answer 2

idk maybe it's just the way the folds of the bark turned out

Answer 3

It could very well be cancer. Trees can get it as well. It looks like it, in any case.

Answer 4

hi friend.. these r a type of fungi... which grows on other trees.. check out these sites...

http://americanmushrooms.com/taxa/Polypo...

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/polyporus_...

think this gives u some idea.. :)

Answer 5

It looks like it might be residual bark, but I don't really know. Pretty trippy though

Answer 6

I wish you had included some photos of the leaves to ID this tree.  Many species naturally produce corky growths like this.  

As a guess, this might be cork oak (Quercus suber):  http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/...

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/5441... - compare with the thumbnail photos of the bark at the right

Some elms and fir also produce this type of bark, and sweetgum produces corky outgrowths along its twigs:  http://www.bomengids.nl/lente2/pics/Ambe...

So, what you've photographed may be perfectly normal, depending on the tree species.