Redwood Critters

Just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, nestled in the hills of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and along Redwood Creek, you can find Muir Woods, a refuge of old growth redwood trees. This 12” by 9” ink and watercolor painting is an old redwood that has some interesting shapes emerging from the trunk. I am unsure if these are old limbs that broke off long ago, or if they are burls that took on these shapes.  What do you think they are?  What do they remind you of?