h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Lovely pictures,yours too WS for letting everyone your moments ladies!!!!

Bluesue! Amazing what you find when looking for something completely different!

I was browsing through one of my old gardening books this morning and spotted the following:

Remember the odd growths on those birch trees at Blashford Lakes? Most appropriate that I was there to see them.

The following is an extract:

A dense clump of branching twigs can sometimes be seen on the trunks and main branches of birch. The cause is usually a fungus; but may be a virus or a change in the structure of a growth bud,. These bird nest clumps do no harm; but they can be cut off and the wounds painted with Ar**ex - they are called 'witches broom'

There is also an interesting fungus called Birch Polypore. I have a photo. I will put it on Flickr when I have a minute.

Websailor

That was a coincidence,although it looked more like a tree belonging in an Everglade swamp.I am sure i have a picture of that tree somewhere off to have a look.