Wow Denise, I've never seen anything like that, ever....my first thought is some kind of damage--either mechanical or insect--that has triggered abnormal growth....I'll be interested to see what others here think....

Hi Denise, I have several plants that do this also besides Hoya's. In the real world, they are called 'burls'. Burls on trees have a wood grain pattern that is highly sought out for the beautiful natural design which is used to make beautiful wood instruments and furniture.

I had an Australis tennuipes that developed 3 leaf/peduncle clumps in one spot, then bloom all at once and afterwards proceeded to abort the whole burl.

Marco

Cresting maybe? Happens in other plants all the time.

I've seen this but only on my Kerrii plants. Both the plain and the variegated.

I googled burls, Marco, and I think you're right! Looks like it's just abnormal growth, but I find it interesting that it halts growth at that point. Wiki says (of trees, which is probably the same as plants) "...outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds." So I think my impression was right - the "growth nubbin" goes dormant and it tries again... I removed as much as I could from the one in the photo above and I'll be paying close attention to see if perhaps it will incite it to grow. I hope so...

Denise in Omaha

Hey Denise,

I've seen this on my Kerriis for a long time, I think sometimes on some Pubicalyx too.

The pix of it I tried to take today after reading your post came out too indistinct, but I'm w/ ya in thought. I've wondered about it too; growth nubbins indeed.

This probably requires some obsessive lab-level hygiene (disposable blade, gloves, etc) to minimize spreading the sap and whatnot. Burls are not normal the way, say, branching is. They usually result from virus, fungus or just general stress, even in trees. I had this on a house-warming Hindu rope hoya and a jade (from the same person) a decade ago. I wasn't interested in plants at the time so I just tossed both. I think you can just carefully prune it off when it appears.

Pagan

I don't mind how it looks as much as the fact that it stops the branch from growing further. It will be interesting to see if it makes any difference in that respect...

Denise in Omaha

I have that on the Rubra that I got from you Denise. I wondered what that was... Thanks for the post!

I have that on my hoya acuta. I never did pay attention to those weird looking growth. All i care is the plant does not have pest or rooting.