Sassafras tree "mark"

[POC]

I've seen this "marking" on sassafras trees.  I've heard them called "faces" or "owl face".
Does anyone know what I'm talking about?  I'll get a pic tomorrow, maybe.
What is the "proper" term for this?

Thanks,
Patrick

[nb_foresttech]

Not familure with the Sassafras tree, or disease and growth habbits, however this sounds like nectria canker. If not it may be some other fungal canker?

[SwampDonkey]

A term used up here by log buyers is "catface". It could be a healed wound or dead limb or sometimes bunch knots under the bark in spruce creating a smell or bump that usually causes changes in grain direction that can result in drying defects.

[woodtroll]

There is a disease that is you can find on sassafras. It makes the eye shaped scars. Usually thick grown sassafras has them.
I will try and find the name.
The trees rarely seem to pull out of it and grow quality wood. They develop rot, break off and die back.

[JimTwoSticks]

nb_foresttech is likely correct - sounds like nectria canker to me too.
Check forestryimages.org - search for "neonectria cankers on sassafras" and a decent picture should come up. New to the forum and no way am I going to mess around with the photo upload thing.
Neonectria galligena (syn. Nectria galligena) is the causal fungus. It's a perennial canker that can get quite large on other species though I don't know about sassafras

[SwampDonkey]

Oh come on now, it's not that dangerous. You've got it pretty lucky actually. I can remember the internet when you had to dial-up to a SLIP server with telecom software and move around manually using Unix commands.  No such thing as a web browser until Mosaic came along. And unless at a university they sold internet access through time blocks you purchased and often got a surprise bill when you exceeded it. A $300 internet bill.  DOH!! : ;)

[JimTwoSticks]

SLIP server...telecom software...UNIX...Mosaic!!!!
You sir are speaking a foreign language!

[POC]

Finally got those pics, but I can't get them small enough to post here.

I think I did it...

[JimTwoSticks]

nectria canker. Pretty bad too

[POC]

I wonder what the lumber would look like cut parallel to the face of those?  It might make for some interesting figures.

Thanks for everyones attention!

Patrick

[SwampDonkey]

We sometimes get a bad run of that in birch (white or yellow), sometimes about every tree 6" or bigger in an area is all infected. We call it target canker, same cause. The wood will be quite punky in birch and aspen.