Mutant Tree!!

[nutmg]

I have a tree in my back yard that is VERY strange. It is a maple tree that has one trunk at the ground, then is splits into approx 7 trunks about 4 inches up from the ground. This was a mature tree when we bought the house and we are concerned that the tree will break as it is quite big but has little stability since the trunks are not very thick.

Can anyone offer a suggestion?

 

[DGG]

It sure sounds like a strange one. Can you post a picture(s) of it? Then maybe someone will have a suggestion.

 

[begleytree]

doesn't sound strange, sounds like a tree was removed many years ago, and now you have the stump suckers. usually in a circle and many trunks off one stump. My guess is silver maple.
-Ralph