witches'-broom

[ wich-iz-broom, -broo m ]
/ ˈwɪtʃ ɪzˌbrum, -ˌbrʊm /

noun Plant Pathology.

an abnormal, brushlike growth of small thin branches on woody plants, caused especially by fungi, viruses, and mistletoes.

Origin of witches'-broom

First recorded in 1865–70

British Dictionary definitions for witches'-broom

witches'-broom

witchbroom witches'-besom

/ (ˈwɪtʃˌbruːm) /

noun

a dense abnormal growth of shoots on a tree or other woody plant, usually caused by parasitic fungi of the genus Taphrina