Tree Anatomy 4 Traditional Cache

A new conservation land parcel has opened in Hanson, MA.  The Webster-Billings Area is approx 40 acres of hummocky forest & wetlands with a good trail system, located near the intersection of East Washington St. and State St.  Parking and the trailhead is at the end of Old Pine Drive, off East Washington St.

On my first trip into this area, I spotted an interesting peculiarity in an Eastern White Pine tree.  Witch's Broom is the common name for a growth malformation in trees, caused by a specific fungus infection.  The disease results in a cluster of very dense branch growth, like a tumor, which resembles a broom head in appearance.   These brooms are a stronger growth than the normal branches; they are also parasitic, and will eventually kill the tree.  These growths are rare, but occur more commonly in pines than other tree species.

The broom is easy to see, and the cache is hidden near the base of the afflicted tree.