Espied a circa 30 to 40-foot tall Slash Pine in the woods near Southport, North Carolina with what I am told is dense, very green "Witches Broom" on two limbs (about 10-15 feet long); and two or three other natural, un-effected limbs. It is lovely, not disfiguring; in effect. A whole tree so affected (and infected?) would be even better. A Long Leaf Pine so affected, likely would be more attractive than Slash Pine? Is this genetic, or disease; in cause? If genetic; could other such pines be grown from it with the same effect? Are other, so effected, large pines known of, elsewhere?
Interesting, thought there were some posts on here explaining many witches brooms were caused by mistletoe on the host tree, just recently. Sorry, can't seem to find the posts now, though. These witches brooms are the source of some dwarf conifer cultivars and other tree species cultivars. Someone in the "Conifer Forum " may have more helpful info, www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=154 . A close up picture would be interesting sometime, if available. I see Wikipedia has Slash Pine as Pinus elliottii. Haven't seen any dwarf forms of P. elliottii mentioned in the few conifer reference books here. Maybe you will have found a new dwarf cultivar, sounds interesting. Would expect it could be propagated by grafting onto P. elliottii seedlings, but don't know if it would keep its characteristics. Suppose it would be dependent on rootstalk used and compatibility, and worth having the help of someone with pine propagation experience .
If you put Witches [Witch's broom] Broom into the search tab at the top and set of the right hand button (can't remember what it said I think it is the e-mails) you will get 3 pages of notes from people. I remember whenI first started around April/May this yr there was a discussion going on The miss spelling did also bring up e-mails. apologies spelling is my bug bear. Liz
Spellcheck: witch's broom (that might help find the thread you want!) Witch's brooms can have a wide variety of causes, including virus, fungus, mistletoe, random genetic mutation, etc.; in most individual cases the cause is not easily determinable.
Iseli website explains Witch's Broom's in a very interesting way. Since that is where many of their new conifer's come from.
