if you dont post a picture.. we will soon know if it was poisonous

ken

No - not poisonous - at all. There's been a lot of rain, wondering if this is the way certain trees will siphon off the extra water so it doesn't mess with the regular sap flow. Kind of like a glue that seals itself off from more water getting in, and also regulating the water that's already gotten in.

normally ..... water does not GET IN ... thru the bark ... so its not a sealing off thing .... google the term ....

very common in the prunus family ... not a good sign .... but not necessarily terminal ..

where are you.;. that sap is flowing in december????

ken

The Holy Land

Boisen, if you look up gummosis, it will quickly become apparent that this is a symptom of a range of possible causal agents, all the way from certain canker-forming pathogens, to environmental stress, such as drought or previous extreme cold. So without really taking a sample into a diagnostic lab, it's guesswork on our parts as ti its exact identity. But Ken's right-mostly fruit trees, and a range of outcomes.

+oM

There is no way of giving any kind of really useful answer without knowing what the tree is and for that we need a photo.

OK - will take the photo I hope today. I am delving into this because I think this is an entirely new aspect of the tree that hasn't been looked into enough (or previously) for its medicinal/healing capabilities. No smell, seems antiseptic, no taste and feels light and non-sticky. If someone knows where to find the chemical analysis of this form of sap - anywhere - just to get a superficial look till we ID the bearing tree, this would be very helpful. Meanwhile, let me just recharge the batteries and get this happening on my side.

"the chemical analysis of this form of sap - anywhere - just to get a superficial look till we ID the bearing tree." That's back to front. You need the id before looking into the properties of the sap.

Thar she is - in all of her majesty.

Not a tree I have ever seen in person but I believe that could be Brachychiton acerifolius. You should be able to research it yourself from there.

Thanks - am looking now - just seems nothing about the sap/gel. Also - there are places where it's written that the tree flowers during December - it's far from flowering - not even budding. So, hm.

Yes, that also occurred to me. I think I've seen the pods on the ground at some time as well, so it could very well be the brachychiton acerfolius. Such a pretty tree.

Floral-I believe you've got it...awesome knowledge base. Me, I'm just starting to wrap my head around a few of the subtropical and tropical genera. Apparently, pairing these with Jacarandas can produce a display of truly amazing color and magnitude.

Boisenberry-nothing showed up for me just now in terms of a direct link between this tree and any gummosis-like attack of any kind. Look up mango culture for some related content if you want. But no, nothing jumps out at me. As far as flowering amount, flowering timing, duration, and all the rest, a quick read has left me thinking it's quite strongly tied into the weather and daylight regime of wherever it's native to in Australia. So, say, a wet winter might lessen subsequent spring/early summer flowering, or if the daylength is much different than where its adapted to, that sort of thing.

+oM

Finally, a mention of the gel ! - Apparently this is a jelly like substance that comes from the pods (?) to deter insects (genius!) there's got to be more somewhere - still looking - http://gardendrum.com/2013/11/12/my-illawarra-flame-tree-blooms/

Look under 'other uses' Brachychiton acerifolius gum Search also under Sterculia acerifolia, apparently a former name of this species.

Thank you so kindly floral

I have a flame tree kurrajong in my yard and has gel like substance dripping from the pods and chunks of it on the ground. Looks like jellyfish and appeared after all the rain we had last week.

I think my original hypothesis of the gel being the sap mixed with excess water the tree rids itself of was accurate. The gel acts as a disinfectant, a sponge and as a catalyst for the excess water to exude so as not to bog down any of the tree's many functions.