Carpinus swelling and cracking

[Rivian]

This is a European Hornbeam I found in a forest last Fall. Something is up with the trunk, any ideas? Its swelling and cracking in a ring

 

[19Mateo83]

I don’t know what causes that but I noticed the exact same thing on one at a nursery yesterday. It progresses to a open wound. This tree had several places all up the trunk that were cracked and falling off. The tree was trying to close the wounds but it looks like it has been trying for a while and has a while yet to go before it’s healed completely.

 

[Rivian]

Yeah looks similar

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Those swells and cracking bark I think are normal in Carpinus species, many of them usually have reverse taper because of those lumps

 

[penumbra]

Those swells and cracking bark I think are normal in Carpinus species, many of them usually have reverse taper because of those lumps

View attachment 435629

Looks terrible. Does not look normal.

 

[19Mateo83]

Those swells and cracking bark I think are normal in Carpinus species, many of them usually have reverse taper because of those lumps

View attachment 435629

If that’s normal thank god I’m surrounded by American hornbeams

 

[rockm]

i've had Korean Hornbeam. That's not normal. I'd take a closer look at what's going on with the tree. Those look like burls or cankers, can be caused by fungus and/or infestation of bark beetles.

 

[Shogun610]

Those swells and cracking bark I think are normal in Carpinus species, many of them usually have reverse taper because of those lumps

View attachment 435629

Nice how long have you had that?

 

[Rivian]

Those look like burls or cankers, can be caused by fungus and/or infestation of bark beetles.

Theres 2 shield lice right below the swelling section I think, you can see it in one of the photos

 

[rockm]

Theres 2 shield lice right below the swelling section I think, you can see it in one of the photos

I was talking about the Korean Hornbeam. The stuff on the nursery trees is likely canker disease.

 

[rockm]

Theres 2 shield lice right below the swelling section I think, you can see it in one of the photos

The "shield lice" (or scale insects) you're seeing are likely resting buds. That's how buds can look on hornbeam sometimes

 

[Rivian]

The "shield lice" (or scale insects) you're seeing are likely resting buds. That's how buds can look on hornbeam sometimes

No, they were scale
I just removed them

I was talking about the Korean Hornbeam.

Thats fine but I think a disease might have entered through the pest on my tree in the way you described

 

[Rivian]

Yeah so It got a lot worse, its not just a ring anymore, its all over the trunk and also on my larger european hornbeam. My other hornbeam species have not been infected (yet?). I did take pictures but my phone didnt store them so Im just done with it. Will throw them away.
Its a shame the exact culprit is unknown though
As things stand, I will refrain from getting any more european hornbeams, including buying a 'Rockhampton Red' which I was considering

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Its a shame the exact culprit is unknown though

Agrobacterium (tumefaciens?) can cause these kind of growths.
Should be killed with a bactericide. However, if the infection is advanced.. The bacteria will have formed capsules from which they live, those protect them from the sap stream.

The infection is easily transmitted through tools, insects and whatnot. So make sure you either burn that tree or use a separate set of tools and keep it away from the rest.