Identify this.

[squad143]

A friend of mine purchased a new home and this was attached to one of his trees in his backyard.

Does anyone know what this is?

Is there a name for it and any idea what causes it?

 

[yooper]

We always called them witches brooms. A number of stresses, both biological and environmental, can lead to the formation of brooms. Organisms such as fungi, phytoplasmas (bacterial-like organisms), mites, aphids, and mistletoe plants can cause abnormal growth when they attack a host tree....In some areas here they also are on the side of the roads I think salt causes the defect.

 

[yooper]

TreeCo, An area about 100 miles east from where I live there are hundreds of these along the highway. mostly in poplar, white birch , and cherry. would you have any idea if road salt could be the culprit or could perhaps some herbicide over spray cause witches brooms?

 

[newsawtooth]

Dwarf Mistletoe, a parasitic plant that causes almost cancerous growth often called witches broom. More common in pines and Doug Fir but can occur in spruce as well. Usually symptomatic of some other underlying weakness or malady like drought, nutrient deficiency, or old age. Not considered immediately threatening to tree health but can contribute to decline over time.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/02925.html

 

[squad143]

Thanks Guys!

Once again AS comes through.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Everyone is right, if it is a mutation, then you can get a little dough from the growers if they can breed it true.

As for highway salt, definitely, it messes every tree out there. Kills the primary bud, so latent buds have to take over.

 

[BC WetCoast]

Dwarf Mistletoe, a parasitic plant that causes almost cancerous growth often called witches broom. More common in pines and Doug Fir but can occur in spruce as well. Usually symptomatic of some other underlying weakness or malady like drought, nutrient deficiency, or old age. Not considered immediately threatening to tree health but can contribute to decline over time.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/02925.html

Dwarf mistletoe is not symptomatic of anything related to the tree. It can affect a tree of any condition providing it is the right species and the mistletoe seed lands on the tree branch and is able to germinate.

On the west coast, dwarf mistletoe is most common in Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). The seed pod expands with water and then 'shoots' the seed out (Think spitting out a watermelon seed) about 50-75'. The seed is sticky and will stick where it hits. If it hits on a branch or stem, then it will likely germinate and grow into the tree extracting nutrients. The witches broom is essentially the trees reaction to the infection.

 

[newsawtooth]

Dwarf mistletoe is not symptomatic of anything related to the tree. It can affect a tree of any condition providing it is the right species and the mistletoe seed lands on the tree branch and is able to germinate.

On the west coast, dwarf mistletoe is most common in Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). The seed pod expands with water and then 'shoots' the seed out (Think spitting out a watermelon seed) about 50-75'. The seed is sticky and will stick where it hits. If it hits on a branch or stem, then it will likely germinate and grow into the tree extracting nutrients. The witches broom is essentially the trees reaction to the infection.

You are correct, I was mistaken. Dwarf mistletoe does not depend on a weakened host. Dwarf mistletoe can predispose their host to other problems. Their method of spread is wild, seeds can be dispersed by the method you described at 60 mph, according to some sources.

 

[squad143]

If it was mistletoe, would there be evidence of it? I could only see thick spruce needles. Does mistletoe grow this far north? (Toronto Canada).