Robert11 wrote:
Hi,

Live outside of Boston.

Have this tree in my front yard about 20 feet tall or so.
Have no idea what it is.
Has pointed leaves, no cones.

Moved in about 4 yrs ago, and tree was like, well, just there since, and
looking pretty.

Just now, WOW !

Zillions of round, reddish color, balls have appeared all over for the first
time (at least in 4 yrs.).
About 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.

Surface is not smooth, has many protrusions going outward.
Almost like a small golf ball, with the dimples going outward rather than
inward.

Any idea what this is, and what is happening ?

Thanks,
Bob



The first thing that came to mind was American Sweetgum (Liquidambar
styraciflua). It has five-pointed leaves that almost resemble a star as
drawn by a child. The fruit is golf-ball sized but has spikes rather than
simple protrusions but what you are seeing might, I suppose, be early-stage
fruits before the spikes fully develop. Does it look anything like this?

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gewa/Sweetgum.jpg

In theory this tree isn't native as far north as Boston but there is no
telling what someone might have planted in a yard. There are also some
other varieties of sweetgum that might qualify but I don't have any
experience with them.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com