I’ve been watching these things form in the Ponderosa Pines for a year. What are they and how are they formed? Please scroll down to the bottom of this post and “leave a reply” or “comment” so that all residents can learn.
Thanks…
Patti
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It’s called a “Witch’s Broom”… A Witch’s broom is a disease or deformity in a woody plant, typically a tree, where the natural structure of the plant is changed. A dense mass of shoots grows from a single point, with the resulting structure resembling a broom or a bird’s nest. Apparently of diseases, pests, and parasites can cause trees to form them. And they do get used as nests on occasion, by flying squirrels, among other critters….
Thank you, Rick! They do look like brooms! I wondered if there were nests inside but there was no way I was going to put my hand in one!
There is a similar disease that occurs with Fir trees…. which is called Mistletoe . It forms clumps on Fir trees like these Witches Brooms and I am told are bad for the tree. I believe that if you look around you’ll see similar things on the Firs as well as the Ponderosa Pines.
Mark McKenney
I have a friend whose husband is a retired forester. Yep, it is a ” mistletoe” tree.
I love these non-technical but descriptive names! Mistletoe fits as well! I took a walk and may see some forming in the firs but definitely not as far advanced as on the Pines. Should we be cutting these off? I hope not…they are pretty cool!
Thanks Hélène & Mark!
Hi the brooms on the Douglas Fir are Douglas Fir dwarf mistletoe, however the brooms on the Ponderosa Pines are not mistletoe but abnormal growth cause by a needle cast . They do not harm the pine like the mistletoe does to the fir. There is a Lodgepolepine dwarf mistletoe but that is not what you are seeing in these brooms. Cheers George
Thanks George! Well, I’ve learned a lot from everyone! Now, with the proper terminology, I Googled all the terms! I’m glad to know that the brooms are not harmful and I can continue to watch them grow. I’m still not sticking my hand in one!