oak ball

[penny]

What is the purpose of an oak ball?

 

[Treebeard]

If you mean the round, brown, paper like balls on some limbs on an oak, those are GALLS. They are caused by a wasp laying eggs in the stem & causing it to swell & create a nursery. Does'nt hurt the oak or other tree to speak of so far as I know, just looks odd to us humans. Generally, its one of those "live & let live" nature things I have had clients call about them though....another educational opportunity.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Or it could be an area of meristem that grows faster than the surounding wood, also called a burl by wood workers. Interesting grain and prized by carvers and such. Some are areas where sprouts dieback regularly. Ive turned a few bowls from these.