What IS this? Save my tree..!

This thing (a gall???) has appeared at the base of my huge, towering, at-least-60-year-old Willow Oak tree for the last two years. It doesn't appear to do any harm, but I've decided I need to find out what it is, as this tree is only two yards from my house (someone didn't realize how large Willow Oaks get, apparently....) so I value its continued health. I'm guessing its fungal, but not sure if its harmful. The area is quite dry, but does have a fairly deep layer of dried Willow Oak leaves around the base of the tree, and is in complete shade. Any thoughts ?

The best suggestion I can give you is to take a sample to your Agriculture Extension Service for analysis or have an arborist check it out. Possibilities to consider: a fungal or bacterial canker

Luis

Hmm...I hadn't thought about the Ag Extensions Service...Good idea. I was hoping to not have to pay an arborist to come out, as I just had lots of tree work done last year and don't need any at the present time. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yote -- I thought of you when I just read this article and posted it in the other "neighbor's tree" thread I started. I hope this wasn't your's that came down in Garner today. :(

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5830979/

Oh my gosh....that is unbelievable, though I know it happens. It was not, thank goodness, my tree, but a good warning to all of us who live in this area with these big, beautiful trees that we all love. They all, eventually, will come down, and we need to remember that.

Glad to hear that all is well in your landscape! It continues to rain limbs in my driveway, but the city is supposed to come out this week and take a look at the situation with my neighbor's tree (since they refused delivery of the certified letter, it was my only other option). They said if it was purely a private-property issue, they wouldn't get involved; however, since there are also dead limbs that extend over the public right-of-way (street), they will come out to take a look, and if there is pruning that needs to be done to ensure the safety of the public on the street, they will issue a letter to them ordering them to take the necessary actions. I don't know what penalties there are if they opt to ignore the city as well, but at least I'll know I've done everything I can from my end.

Thats good to know, that they will at least come look. Guess from their perspective, its a liability issue for them. Maybe this incident prompted them to take it seriously, huh?

We'll see. The city was going to come out sometime this week then call me with what they are able to do. I'll let you know.