Like burls, root balls are haphazard growths of woody plants. One never knows what can be produced from a root ball until its outer layers are peeled away. Unlike burls, root balls are not going to be diamonds-in-the-rough. They are more likely to become rustic pieces of visual and tactile delights. They look like they will fall into pieces with the slightest touch, but they are quite sturdy. A root ball is a unique and challenging medium all its own.