i recently read in 'Maples for Gardeners' by CJ Van Gelderen, under
the section regarding Acer Palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy' that 'As often seen in
witches'-brooms, it is short lived and dies back suddenly...'....i have air
layed this cultivar, and roots came roaring out....both the (grafted) mother
plant and the airlayered progeny seem to be very hardy....what is the deal
with witches' brooms, and am i wasting my time working on them?...(I am also
air layering Shaina).....japanese maples in general seem to be naturallly
happy here in northern california.....thanks for any help in advance....mja,
oakland CA

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At 02:27 AM 5/11/03 -0400, Michael Jensen-Akula wrote:
i recently read in 'Maples for Gardeners' by CJ Van Gelderen, under
the section regarding Acer Palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy' that 'As often seen in
witches'-brooms, it is short lived and dies back suddenly...'....i have air
layed this cultivar, and roots came roaring out....both the (grafted) mother
plant and the airlayered progeny seem to be very hardy....what is the deal
with witches' brooms, and am i wasting my time working on them?...(I am also
air layering Shaina).....japanese maples in general seem to be naturallly
happy here in northern california.....thanks for any help in advance....mja,
oakland CA

Mike

With all due respect to Van Gelderen, I would be more inclined to believe
Vertrees (Japanese Maples) who can't say enough good things about this
cultivar, including that it is his favorite dwarf and performs well in the
landscape. As to its origin I quote:

"Our Australian friends have selected an excellent little dwarf form which
they have named 'Coonara Pygmy'. This was _selected_ (my emphasis) by Mr.
Aronold Teese, Yamina Rare Plants, Victoria, Australia. I place this in the
group termed 'yatsubusa' along with the other dwarf palmate leaf forms."

The term _selected_ would seem to indicate that this is a seedling
selection and not a branch mutation (witch broom), although it is not
definitive. Nearly all A.p. cultivars are seedling selections, very few if
any are branch mutations. I have grown this cultivar for many years and
have not noticed any problem.

Our more learned friends can correct me, but I believe that "witch broom"
usually refers to very dwarf growth that arises from a branch mutation
called a fasciculation. This is a fan shaped growth that results from a
genetically damaged bud (meristem), often by insects transmitting disease
or virus. This is quite common on many conifers and probably accounts for
most of the cultivars of Chamaecyparis. Sometimes this dwarf growth is not
stable, reverting to normal sized growth, sometimes it is weak and not
sustainable away from the parent plant, but often it makes perfectable
stable strong cultivars.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

You suggest that witches' brooms arise from a variety of causes and I tend
to agree. Although some are genetically stable, the bulk of them aren't.
Trying to cultivate them is like riding on a walrus' back. Still, those
that succeed are worth all the effort.
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "Evergreen Gardenworks"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 8:18 AM
Subject: [IBC] witches' brooms


At 02:27 AM 5/11/03 -0400, Michael Jensen-Akula wrote:
i recently read in 'Maples for Gardeners' by CJ Van Gelderen,
under
the section regarding Acer Palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy' that 'As often seen
in
witches'-brooms, it is short lived and dies back suddenly...'....i have
air
layed this cultivar, and roots came roaring out....both the (grafted)
mother
plant and the airlayered progeny seem to be very hardy....what is the
deal
with witches' brooms, and am i wasting my time working on them?...(I am
also
air layering Shaina).....japanese maples in general seem to be naturallly
happy here in northern california.....thanks for any help in
advance....mja,
oakland CA

Mike

With all due respect to Van Gelderen, I would be more inclined to believe
Vertrees (Japanese Maples) who can't say enough good things about this
cultivar, including that it is his favorite dwarf and performs well in the
landscape. As to its origin I quote:

"Our Australian friends have selected an excellent little dwarf form which
they have named 'Coonara Pygmy'. This was _selected_ (my emphasis) by
Mr.
Aronold Teese, Yamina Rare Plants, Victoria, Australia. I place this in
the
group termed 'yatsubusa' along with the other dwarf palmate leaf forms."

The term _selected_ would seem to indicate that this is a seedling
selection and not a branch mutation (witch broom), although it is not
definitive. Nearly all A.p. cultivars are seedling selections, very few if
any are branch mutations. I have grown this cultivar for many years and
have not noticed any problem.

Our more learned friends can correct me, but I believe that "witch broom"
usually refers to very dwarf growth that arises from a branch mutation
called a fasciculation. This is a fan shaped growth that results from a
genetically damaged bud (meristem), often by insects transmitting disease
or virus. This is quite common on many conifers and probably accounts for
most of the cultivars of Chamaecyparis. Sometimes this dwarf growth is not
stable, reverting to normal sized growth, sometimes it is weak and not
sustainable away from the parent plant, but often it makes perfectable
stable strong cultivars.


Brent in Northern California
Evergreen Gardenworks USDA Zone 8 Sunset Zone 14

http://www.EvergreenGardenworks.com


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****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++

************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++