What are witches' brooms?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
October 31, 2002
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A hexen-besen or witches' broom is an area of abnormally high branching with abnormally low stem elongation on shrubs and trees. There is no single cause of witches' broom; different plant species are affected by different causative agents. Witches' brooms are something of a mystery. The causative agents are being discovered, but how these agents change the plant's
growth is not yet understood.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) witches' broom grows in response to feeding aphids (Hyadaphis tataricae). The fungus, Taphrina cerasi, infects sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium varieties) causing witches' brooms. Mycoplasma-like organisms (MLOs), dwarf mistletoe, viruses, even road salt used to de-ice highways has caused the bushy growth. Most witches' brooms are benign; a few, especially conifers, have entered the horticultural market.
Dwarf plants from witches' brooms are often propagated by cuttings or grafting. Witches' brooms grown as bonsai are called Yatsubusa. Rarely a witches' broom will produce seeds.
The seeds carry the altered genetic code and grow in a 'miniature' form. Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) normally grow to thirty meters (100 feet). Seeds from a witches' broom have produced dwarf loblolly pines (Pinus taeda 'Nana') only growing to five meters (15 feet) at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in North Carolina.
The Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) grows to 18 meters (60 feet) and has produced two interesting dwarf varieties from witches' brooms. The bird's nest spruce (Picea abies 'Nidiformis') came from a witches' broom on a normal Norway spruce. The 'Little Gem' spruce (Picea abies 'Little Gem') originated as a witches' broom on the bird's nest spruce—a witches' broom from a witches' broom.
The University of Minnesota Extension Service has a photograph of a honeysuckle witches' broom caused by an aphid. To view the photograph, click on the link:
Click here to view the photograph
Paul and Bernice Noll have a photograph of a bird's nest spruce growing in the yard. To view the beautiful bird's nest, click on the link:
http://www.paulnoll.com/Oregon/Plants/tree-Spruce-Birds-Nest.html
Helmers Baumschulen has a photograph of the 'Little Gem' spruce. To view a witches' broom of a witches' broom, click on the link:
http://www.helmers.de/pflanzen/nadelgehoelze/picea_abies_little_gem.php
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Why did Alexander take the island of bliss? Plants that Changed History - November 4, 2003
What are the dragon trees of Soqotra? Weird Plants - November 6, 2003
Where is the marketplace of dragon's blood? What's in a Name? - November 7, 2003
Dragon tree legend and lore Herbal Folklore - November 10, 2003
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