Witch's Broom on Fir (Abies sp.) Tree

Witch's broom is a deformity that grows on trees and causes the natural structure of the tree to change. It looks like a dense mass of shoots growing from a single point, with the resulting structure resembling a broom or bird's nest. It can be caused by tree damage or pathogens.

Habitat: This witch's broom was growing on a Fir tree (Abies sp.) in a meadow

comments (5)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Bizarre! I totally would have figured this is just what the tree normally looks like. Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I should have taken a zoomed out photo because you can definitely notice the difference. It looks like an overgrown clump of deformed shoots and really does stand out. Here's a better example of what it really looks like:
  
  http://sfrc.ufl.edu/extension/4h/foresthealth/stress/witchesbroom.jpg Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, that does stand out in context. Posted 4 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

So pretty! Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  It was. Lots of people harvest them. I'm guessing this one will be gone before I get back there again. I'd like to see one as it continues to mature. Posted 4 years ago

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