Witches brooms

Many trees can form strange, nest like masses of twigs, commonly known as witches brooms. They are rarely nests, although a few creatures will use them as such. They are galls which are caused by insects, mites, viruses, fungi, or even parasitic plants.

Like the Robins Pincushions I blipped the other day, these witches brooms form on Birch trees but, in this case are the result of a fungus Taphrina betulina.

We all know that in folklore witches used broom sticks to fly around at high speed. Of course housework was the woman's domain and it was logical that an item, most often made from birch twigs should become a symbol. Centuries ago, women would push their brooms out of the chimney or prop them at the door as a sign for neighbors that they were out. From there, it was an easy step to believe that witches could use them to fly.

A famous 17th century Scottish witch, Isobel Gowdie, claimed to have used her broom for something very different. She put a spell on the broom and substituted it for herself in bed when she wanted to go out. Isobel declared that her husband never knew the difference.
I wonder if that was a confession of their marital state rather than a act of witchcraft.