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Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!


Postby The Rodmiester » Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:43 am

IMG_3580.JPG
Scots Pine, what causes this? any ideas.
IMG_3579.JPG
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby gaffr » Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:10 am

Came across this on one of the pines in Corsica while travelling along the Mare e Monti. :)
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close to the Capu San Petru Corse 071.jpg
Between Serriera and Ota.
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby LDPWalker » Mon Apr 22, 2013 12:00 pm

I think you will find it is called Witches Broom. This is a fungal, viral or insect induced growth deformity, not uncommon on many species of tree. It can often cause abnormal, twiggy growths that do look like witches broomsticks, hence the name.
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby The Rodmiester » Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:26 pm

LDPWalker wrote:I think you will find it is called Witches Broom. This is a fungal, viral or insect induced growth deformity, not uncommon on many species of tree. It can often cause abnormal, twiggy growths that do look like witches broomsticks, hence the name.


Thankyou LDPWalker, there was a discussion between club members at the weekend when we stayed at the Muir Hut, and I thought about WH for an answer, and there you are, it worked. I will tell the other members. :D
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby LDPWalker » Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:54 pm

I knew my Botany degree would come in handy for something one day........
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby ballarat » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:09 am

also known as witches nests i believe :)
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby LDPWalker » Tue Apr 23, 2013 9:27 am

Ballarat, that is interesting, I've never heard it called that, but the specimen in the picture certainly looks more like a nest than a broom.....!
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Re: Strange growth on Scots Pine at Muir Hut!

Postby ballarat » Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:49 pm

:? i think theres a similar sort of growth appears on birch trees or is it larch :?
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