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Tree Burls - Why Are There Heads Growing Out Of My Tree?

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Outside my dining room window is what I call the world's largest silver maple. I know it is not, but it is really big and has a 48 inch diameter. The other day, I was looking at it through the dining room window and noticed this weird growth developing on the side of the tree. I never noticed it before, and it seems to have grown in the last couple of months. The more I looked it, the more I noticed what looked like heads protruding out of the side of the tree and it is a little bit creepy. These growths are known as burls. Burls are odd shaped bumps, lumps or bulges that develop on the trunks of many trees. Sometimes they look like just a big bulge, but some take on human facial characteristics like noses or even faces. There hasn't been a lot of research on what causes burls to develop. It could be the tree's response to an insect or disease invasion, but no specific organism has been identified as the culprit. Some burls develop from an overgrowth of bud tissue that keeps multiplying without developing shoots. Other burls develop without any specific reason. Burls will grow in size as they age. They don't directly affect the tree, but they do seem to reduce the tree's vigor. Unfortunately, this can make the tree more susceptible to insect and disease infestation and, in turn, reduce the tree's life span. The wood found within a burl can form into interesting swirl patterns and are highly prized by wood workers. That does not mean that burls should be cut off the tree. That will just open it up for attacks by diseases and insects and could cause more tree damage . It is best to leave them alone and monitor the tree for any possible signs of fatigue. In the case of my tree, that burl will have to grow really large to cause me any concern. I just hope no more faces start to show through.