The Bratz witch doll is a popular toy that has captured the imagination of young girls around the world. This doll is part of the Bratz doll collection, which features a group of four fashion-forward friends. The Bratz witch doll stands out from the rest of the collection with its unique theme and design. The main idea behind the Bratz witch doll is to celebrate Halloween and the magic of witchcraft in a fun and fashionable way. The doll is dressed in an enchanting outfit complete with a pointy hat, cloak, and witch-inspired accessories. Its fashion is edgy and glamorous, embodying the Bratz brand's signature style.

How to Manage Pests

Witches' brooms typically are dense clusters of twigs or thickened stems that develop on the branches of woody plants. Affected leaves and shoots may become discolored, distorted, and dwarfed.

Identification

The specific appearance of witches' brooms varies with the particular cause and host plant(s). Causes and their hosts include

• cedar, cypress, and juniper rusts, Gymnosporangium species
• dwarf mistletoes, Arceuthobium spp. that infect conifers
• fasciation, which is caused by microorganisms and unidentified causes possibly including genetic factors; numerous plant species are uncommonly affected
• glyphosate herbicide injury and certain other herbicide phytotoxicities
• powdery mildew (PDF) fungus of oaks, Cystotheca (=Sphaerotheca) lanestris
• rose rosette disease, a mite-vectored virus
• western gall rust, Endocronartium (=Peridermium) harknessii, a pine disease
• yellows, or phytoplasmas that mostly affect herbaceous plants
• zinc deficiency and possibly other nutritional disorders on most any woody species

Life cycle

The biology and development of witches' brooms varies with the particular situation. Oaks, for example, commonly develop witches' brooms after spring weather is cool and moist and in coastal areas where fog occurs during the growing season. The witches' brooms become apparent on oak terminals by late spring or early summer.

Rose rosette disease that causes witches' broom in roses is caused by an RNA virus in the genus Emaravirus. The virus is spread by a rose-feeding, wind-transported eriophyid mite, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus. This virus is common in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains but in California has only been reported in the Fresno area. Most rose viruses do not threaten plant survival; they only slow plant growth and mar the aesthetic appearance. Rose rosette virus, however, generally kills infected hosts.

Solutions

Provide plants with proper cultural care and a good growing environment to keep them vigorous. Where they are aesthetically objectionable, prune out witches' brooms at least several inches below where they form. This is commonly the only available management strategy, such as for most fasciations and western gall rust.

Removing affected roses and replanting using clean plants is the only management likely to be effective for rose rosette disease. Infected roses cannot be cured. Control of the eriophyid mite vector of this virus can reduce the risk of the pathogen spreading to uninfected roses. But good control of eriophyids using miticides is difficult to achieve in most gardens and landscapes. For more information see Five Ways to Manage Rose Rosette Disease and Rose Rosette Disease Demystified (PDF) .

Adapted from the publications linked above and Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: An Integrated Pest Management Guide, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM).

Witches' broom on oak.

Dense, bushy foliage caused by juniper rust.

Small, yellowish almond leaves in tufts due to zinc deficiency.

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California

Why Do Witches Ride Brooms? The History Behind the Legend

From pagan fertility rituals to hallucinogenic herbs, the story of witches and brooms is a wild ride.

Updated: August 9, 2023 | Original: October 19, 2020

The evil green-skinned witch flying on her magic broomstick may be a Halloween icon—and a well-worn stereotype. But the actual history behind how witches came to be associated with such an everyday household object is anything but dull.

It’s not clear exactly when the broom itself was first invented, but the act of sweeping goes back to ancient times when people likely used bunches of thin sticks, reeds and other natural fibers to sweep aside dust or ash from a fire or hearth. As J. Bryan Lowder writes, this household task even shows up in the New Testament, which dates to the first and second centuries A.D.

The word broom comes from the actual plant, or shrub, that was used to make many early sweeping devices. It gradually replaced the Old English word besom, though both terms appear to have been used until at least the 18th century. From the beginning, brooms and besoms were associated primarily with women, and this ubiquitous household object became a powerful symbol of female domesticity.

Despite this, the first witch to confess to riding a broom or besom was a man: Guillaume Edelin. Edelin was a priest from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. He was arrested in 1453 and tried for witchcraft after publicly criticizing the church’s warnings about witches. His confession came under torture, and he eventually repented but was still imprisoned for life.

By the time of Edelin’s “confession,” the idea of witches riding around on broomsticks was already well established. The earliest known image of witches on brooms dates to 1451, when two illustrations appeared in the French poet Martin Le Franc’s manuscript Le Champion des Dames (The Defender of Ladies). In the two drawings, one woman soars through the air on a broom; the other flies aboard a plain white stick. Both wear headscarves that identify them as Waldensians, members of a Christian sect founded in the 12th century who were branded as heretics by the Catholic Church, partly because they allowed women to become priests.

Anthologist Robin Skelton suggests the association between witches and brooms may have roots in a pagan fertility ritual, in which rural farmers would leap and dance astride poles, pitchforks or brooms in the light of the full moon to encourage the growth of their crops. This “broomstick dance,” she writes, became confused with common accounts of witches flying through the night on their way to orgies and other illicit meetings.

Its fashion is edgy and glamorous, embodying the Bratz brand's signature style. What sets the Bratz witch doll apart is its attention to detail. The doll is meticulously crafted with high-quality materials and intricate features.

Flying Witches Linked to Pagan Ritual?

Broomsticks were also thought to be the perfect vehicles for the special ointments and salves that witches brewed up to give themselves the ability to fly, among other depraved activities. In 1324, when the wealthy Irish widow Lady Alice Kyteler was tried for sorcery and heresy, investigators reported that in searching Kyteler’s house, they found “a pipe of ointment, wherewith she greased a staff, upon which she ambled and galloped through thicke and thin."

Pharmacologist David Kroll writes in Forbes that alleged witches in the Middle Ages were thought to concoct their brews from such plants as Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Mandragora officinarum (mandrake) and Datura stramonium (jimsonweed), all of which would have produced hallucinogenic chemicals known as tropane alkaloids.

According to some historical accounts, rather than ingest these mind-altering substances by eating or drinking, which would have caused intestinal distress, witches chose to absorb them through the skin—often in the most intimate areas of their bodies. In his book Murder, Magic, and Medicine, John Mann cites a 15th-century text by the theologian Jordanes de Bergamo, who wrote that “the vulgar believe, and the witches confess, that on certain days or nights, they anoint a staff and ride on it to the appointed place or anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places.”

From the doll's expressive face to its posable limbs, it is evident that a lot of thought has gone into its design. This attention to detail makes the doll stand out and adds to its appeal. Moreover, the Bratz witch doll allows young girls to engage in imaginative play. The doll comes with various accessories like a broomstick and cauldron, allowing children to create their own magical stories. This open-ended play encourages creativity and helps develop storytelling skills. Furthermore, the Bratz witch doll promotes inclusivity and diversity. Just like the other dolls in the collection, the Bratz witch doll embraces different skin tones, body types, and hairstyles, ensuring that every child can find a doll that they relate to. In conclusion, the Bratz witch doll is a captivating toy that celebrates the magic of witchcraft and Halloween in a fun and fashionable way. Its attention to detail, imaginative play possibilities, and inclusivity make it an appealing choice for young girls who are fans of the Bratz doll collection..

Reviews for "Finding the Perfect Bratz Witch Doll for Your Witchy Alter Ego"

- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Bratz witch doll. The quality just wasn't there. The hair was cheap and easily tangled, and the clothes were poorly made. The doll itself looked nothing like the pictures. Overall, for the price, I expected much better. I would not recommend this doll to anyone.

- Amanda - 1 star - I had high hopes for the Bratz witch doll, but it fell short in so many ways. The doll's face looked weirdly distorted, and the paint job was sloppy. The joints were stiff and difficult to move, making it frustrating to pose the doll. I expected more from a well-known brand like Bratz. I won't be purchasing any more dolls from them.

- Jessica - 2 stars - The Bratz witch doll was a major letdown. The quality was subpar, with loose limbs and easily chipped paint. The doll didn't stand properly without support, which was disappointing. Additionally, the clothes were poorly designed and didn't fit well on the doll. I expected better from Bratz, and I will be returning this doll.

- Emily - 3 stars - While the Bratz witch doll wasn't terrible, it wasn't great either. The overall design was underwhelming, and the doll's features looked more cartoonish than witch-like. The clothes were nice, but they didn't fit properly on the doll. I wouldn't recommend this doll if you're looking for something realistic or high-quality.

The Bratz Witch Doll Revival: From Nostalgia to Modern Charm