6e342206   
   XPost: rec.gardens, rec.birds, sci.misc   
   From: fsholbrook@yahoo.com   
      
   jadel wrote:   
   > On Aug 12, 10:05 am, Jack Schmidling  wrote:   
   >> Returning home from our Friday trip to town, we spotted this strange   
   >> apparition in a tree along the road.....   
   >>   
   >> I need some help identifying it.   
   >>   
   >   
   > One point of clarification.  As I said in an earlier reply, it's a   
   > 'witch's broom.' They are all caused by a mutation in a branch bud.   
   > Nobody is sure what triggers the mutation; viruses, injury and   
   > spontaneous mutation have all been suggested as possible causes.   
   > Pines and spruces seem to be very susceptible to them.   
   >   
   > An analogy would be 'cresting'  in cacti.   
   >   
   > BTW, White Pine Blister Rust doesn't look like that.  Branches with   
   > WPBR just turn brown, wither and die; they don't produce that kind of   
   > bushy excresence.   
   >   
   >   
   > J. Del Col   
   There are rust pustules also   
      
   --   
      
   Rick   
   Fargo, ND   
   N 46°53'251"   
   W 096°48'279"   
      
   Remember the USS Liberty   
   http://www.ussliberty.org/   
      
      
      
      
      
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