Witches’ brooms are the strange and abnormal formations of dense twigs that appear in trees and shrubs and have always been a source of mystery. They got their name during medieval times when anything unexplainable was blamed on witchcraft. Today, these bizarre broom-like clusters of branches in trees and bushes are still called “witches’ brooms.”
We now know that witches’ brooms are caused by many different organisms such as fungi, insects, mites and viruses, yet there is much that is not known about them. Thomas Durkis of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture said the department has some interesting photos of witches’ brooms in Christmas trees. He added, “Pinpointing their cause can be very difficult, especially if the formation is related to factors in the environment,”
In the study of nature, it is never an embarrassment to say, “I do not know.” This ignites inquiring minds to explore the unknown. Solving perplexing problems has always been a challenge that inspires young hearts.
Looking closely at these oddly twisted branches, one can see that there is a dense mass of shoots growing from a single point on the plant. These clustered twigs result from uncontrolled growth and can occur in many different species of trees.
Those hunting for witches’ brooms say that cemeteries are good places to find them. The trees are older and further apart, making witches’ brooms easier to spot. Some suggest there might be a more otherworldly explanation for witches’ brooms to be found in graveyards, and this is the season to be a bit superstitious.
Household brooms long ago were made of a bundle of twigs or straw tied at the end of a stick. Brooms have been the object of magical and wizardly customs for many centuries – the association of witches and brooms goes back to ancient times.
In “Brooms and Witches,” Shantell Powell writes, “Witches travel on brooms with the straw part of the broom in back to sweep their tracks from the sky.”
There remains much to learn about the culprits causing these weird witches’ brooms in trees. Since giving the scientific reason for their existence can be complicated, it is much easier and dramatic to say, especially at Halloween, they are caused by the wicked witch that haunts trees.
Paul Basham lives in Concord and writes occasional articles for the Insider on one of his favorite topics: nature.
