little leaf linden does not leaf

[anthony Psaris]

For ten years a beautiful Little leaf linden tree has gone through it's normal cycles from spring, summer , fall and winter. and was very healthy. two years ago it started to leaf and stopped. I was hoping it would leaf this spring bbut it did not. When it stopped leafing the first year it deviloped what I call freckles on all it'e branches. This year the freckles started growing on the tree. They seem to be living in or off of the tree and they have little leafs. I believe the tree is dead or dieing. Can anyone tell me what happened.

 

[SimpleScott]

The freckles have leaves of their own? Are they buds? If you could provide photos it would help immensely

 

[anthony Psaris]

This is what they look like. I have found out they are called tree parasites. How do they attack a tree, and what can be done to stop it. I presume the tree is dead after a second year of no leafs.