This diameter of the coyote brush stem was about 3 cm. Observed on Mt. Diablo near Clayton, CA. Thanks to John Callender for the ID.
I noticed an abundance of swollen stems on Baccharis pilularis in the O'Neil Ranch area above Anna Jean Cummings Park. I've read the midge Rhopalomyia baccharis produces stem swellings on coyote brush, but I don't think they get as large as the ones I was seeing today. Rust is visible in the fissures in some of the large stem swellings. I've been wondering if there's and association between the rust and insect-induced stem galls. Also wondering if the rust is responsible for the dead and sickly Baccharis in the area.