Showcase of the bizarre...

penumbra · Jan 17, 2022

19MATEO83 said:
The fireball cultivar was also grafted from a witches broom

Good to know.

19Mateo83 · Jan 17, 2022

penumbra said:
Good to know.

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penumbra · Jan 17, 2022

I did a little look about and found the following listed as being from witch's brooms. I make no assertion except that is what is claimed.
Skeeter's Broom
Vic's Broom
Carlis Corner
Anna's Broom
Briella's Broom
Corvallis Broom
Sara D
Jerre Schwartz
Fjellhiem

My thought is that there are more JM brooms than any of us are aware of.

penumbra · Jan 17, 2022

crust said:
View attachment 416237

I would love to hear the story behind this one.
On the one hand, the plant on rock is awesome without the firearm. Really a beauty.
On the other hand, WOW! What a powerful composition. Strange but awesome.

Coppersdad · Jan 17, 2022

penumbra said:
"Shaina" JM is from a witches broom of a "Bloodgood" type maple that is growing in front of the Public Safety Building at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, USA. It was found by plants man Dick Wolfe of Red Maple Nursery in PA.
There are probably other but this is the only one I have any information on. I have 3 of these maples and they are wonderful but have ugly grafts.

I seem to remember Bill Valavanius has a species of tree named after him. It is the result of a "witches broom" he developed and cultivated.

Also, check this out
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/01/29/plant-fanatics-climb-up-trees-hunting-for-witchs-brooms

Lumaca · Jan 17, 2022

The most interesting thing I've found so far: this reverse compound leaves that also fold down opposite to the rest of its branch.

ShadyStump · Jan 17, 2022

Mikecheck123 said:
Most people don't associate oaks with thorns or spines, but on the West Coast there are several species that you definitely don't want to bump into accidentally.

The spiniest one is the canyon live oak. My god the spines are long and deadly. Much sturdier than any holly tree.

View attachment 416239

I found similar spines on some Gambels scrub oak here in Colorado while hiking over the summer. I think I posted a pic earlier in this thread somewhere. Just a couple small pockets of them had the sharp leaves. All the rest on the same mountain seemed normal.
Apparently they sometimes they do this when under drought conditions, though I've been all over the local countryside for 25 years and had never noticed it before.
Might try to collect some in spring and see what happens.

Mikecheck123 · Jan 18, 2022

ShadyStump said:
I found similar spines on some Gambels scrub oak here in Colorado while hiking over the summer. I think I posted a pic earlier in this thread somewhere. Just a couple small pockets of them had the sharp leaves. All the rest on the same mountain seemed normal.
Apparently they sometimes they do this when under drought conditions, though I've been all over the local countryside for 25 years and had never noticed it before.
Might try to collect some in spring and see what happens.

Often they have juvenile and mature foliage. With the juvenile foliage being spiky.

penumbra · Jan 18, 2022

ShadyStump said:
Apparently they sometimes they do this when under drought conditions

Mikecheck123 said:
Often they have juvenile and mature foliage. With the juvenile foliage being spiky.

Both of these scenarios are plausible.

Lutonian · Jan 18, 2022

penumbra said:
Both of these scenarios are plausible.

Holm oak (Q ilex) also have two types of leafs a Holly like leaf with bristles on the edge on low growing, fast growing and young branches and smooth leaves on old growth and canopy.