I just noticed today about 15 to 20 leaves like this on my Live Oak after a couple days rain.
Is this a moss of some kind starting ? New house in May, 2006, tree planted by nursery for the builder, about 15 ft tall.
I will post a 2nd view.
Paul L
2nd view of ???
Are you sure that's an Oak tree? Those don't look like
Oak leaves to me.
I'm just guessing at that, looks like the Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) in plant files ??
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/34435/
I have the same things on my live oak leaves. I am sure mine are live oaks. I've been lurking here to see what the answer might be. I have never noticed this before on them. These are small fuzzy balls.
They seem to be a plant growth, have had inside about 24 hr, no movement or change, totally dry & fuzzy all the way thru, leaf seems unharned so far.
I have 2 live oaks in my front yard. I've seen the fuzzy stuff before, but my DH said it was no big deal. However, I am curious as to what it is. I'll look to see if there are any fuzzies on there today. Everyone's live oaks in our neighborhood are dropping acorns like crazy right now. What a mess! I've got them all over my vehicle. I didn't know Live oaks were such messy trees, or I'd opted for a different kind of tree. My DH loves the live oaks...not sure why...they don't do much for me.
Michelle
I wish I could help w/the answer but like so many other things the answer escapes me but I knew once upon a time. All I can remember about the fuzzies is they are natural to oak trees and so not harm them.
Ann
The leaf you have is an evergreeen Live Oak. I think what you are seeing is Fuzzy Oak Gall, made by a gall wasp. Here's more info
http://cetulare.ucdavis.edu/mg/articles/n111402.htm
Each gall maker creates its own distinctive gall using chemicals from its body and from the tree. The Live Oak Woolly Leaf Galls are unusual. They look like tan, furry balls growing on the back side of a green leaf. They are soft and fuzzy to the touch. It is hard to imagine that a little insect lives inside. The majority of oak leaf galls do little or no harm to their host tree. They are just living inside their little galls minding their own business. Take an autumn walk in Live Oak Park in Tulare and you'll see lots of the woolly leaf galls.
Thank you so much for this information. It really is an odd looking duck.
Duh! thanks crow, I was racking my brain. A few years ago I noted some non fuzzy gall on one of my oaks so I read as much as I could, found they were not harmless. Should have read a bit more and gotten to the fuzzy section.
I've seen those fuzzy wuzzy things on my young live oaks too...along with those gall balls, lol. I always heard that they were harmless as well..but I've also seen those weird lookin' round dot things under the leaves as well.....the ones that look like those candy dots on paper that we use to eat as kids. I wonder what those are?
Melanie
I have seen galls like that here in Florida as well, if you pull them open there is
usually a little worm critter inside...
Thanks. I learned about the gall and that not all oak trees have the
same type of leaf. I guess I'm just used to white oak and thought
all oaks were the same.
Mahnot, as a Texas newcomer...the door to oak tree varieties is wide open. Have fun exploring. They are so majestic and beautiful.
That they are, knolan.... my favorite is a Burr Oak... :)
Melanie
I hate "worm critters" and don't even like to look at cats. Be prepared in the spring for the web lice (I think they are called) that cover the trunk of your live oak - others, too, for all I know - and don't wash it off or try in any way to take it off. The trunk will have a web that will move from one place to another and this is the action that cleans the tree and does not hurt it: it is beneficial.
Ann
I stumbled over this thread this morning, and I thought I'd "plug" one of our sometimes overlooked features. ;o)
Many people aren't aware that they can post photos and descriptions of diseases (and any other garden-related terms) in Gardenology (aka Garden Terms.) Creating a record with your pictures and a description about the particular kind of gall would be helpful to others - you can either create a new entry for this specific gall, or post it to the general "gall" entry: http://davesgarden.com/terms/go/381.html
