Sick tree? Please read...link to pics posted

[Michael Elliott]

I've got some pictures of a tree in our backyard posted here

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this; I'm a complete tree non-expert. I don't even know what species it is. At the end of last summer, we noticed some strange growths or tumors on the ends of the twigs. I recall that I broke a couple of them open, and there was a liquid inside which was bluish in color. This year, I see these small greenish balls forming along the green shoots. The abnormal-appearing ones seem to be present at the junction between the leaves and the twig. There are some smaller ones that also look like normal fruit/seeds from the tree (they are on their own individual stalks). There are also some growths on many of the leaves. I've included close-ups of the front and back of the leaves. The lesions penetrate through the leaf. I've looked on the 'net a bit, and the only thing that I can find is "black knot gall" which sounds similar.

If anyone can write back to me at [e-mail] (subject: trees) and let me know, I'd appreciate it. We're in mid-Oklahoma, if that helps the species/disease determination. The main info I'm looking for is:

1) what species of tree is this?

2) do you know what is going on? For all I know, these are normal findings

3) Any ideas about what to do about it?

Thanks! Michael

[RoyDMercer]

The tree you have is a Hackberry. The fruits on the tree will turn red and ripen later. The fruits are edible.

I checked around a little and found this web site:

[Michael]

little flies collecting on the plastic slide under the tree. (Although I thought they were supposed to comeout in the fall).

But that leaves the other lesions...which look like black knot gall I guess.

Thanks everyone, and if anyone has suggestions, let me know

Michael