97 
“ WITCHES’ BROOMS” ON BRITISH WILLOWS. 
By Miner Curisty, F.LS. 
(Puate 537.) 
I peste to call attention to a very remarkable gall which has 
appeared on willow trees in this country within the last few years 
and is apparently spreading, though still confined, I believe, to a 
very limited area around London; within which area, however, it 
is already immensely abundant.* 
he gall in question is in the nature of the “ witches’ brooms ” 
so often seen on the birch, and less often on the elm, hazel, 
hornbeam, and other trees; but this particular ‘‘ broom” appears 
on willows, on which trees, I believe, no form of “ broom” has 
hitherto been recorded in this country. Moreover, it develops on 
the female flower, not on a branch or twig, as in the case of most 
other of these brooms. It differs also from most other brooms in 
e 
According to Houard,} “ witches’ brooms” n the 
Continent by names having much the same significance as that 
ed here, namely besen, and d 
flowers early in the spring. I haven i 
earliest stage. Those interested may look for it during the current 
month. , 
By the middle or end of May the broom has developed to its 
full size. At this time, each broom resembles an elongated bunch 
r *. 
congested and of various stages of development, at different 
points on the proliferated main and on the lateral axes of the 
appears on the twigs only and is alwa : : 
git he os oldies ‘des Plantes d' Europe et du Bassin de la Mediterranée, i. 
Journat or Borany.—Vor. 53. {[Aprit, 1915.) 1 
