A witch's broom is a term used to describe an abnormal growth pattern in plants, particularly trees. It is characterized by the formation of a dense cluster of small branches that resemble the shape of a broom, hence the name. The growth pattern typically occurs due to a genetic mutation or infection by pathogenic organisms such as fungi or viruses. This mutation or infection disrupts the normal growth and development of the plant, leading to the formation of a witch's broom. Witch's brooms can be found in various tree species, including conifers and deciduous trees. They can appear in the crown of the tree, often as a result of bud or shoot proliferation.
Buzz says: “We wanted to increase school spirit; it’s been a tough year for us. We filmed it on two days and put it together. It’s up to over 30,000 views. Especially for Tech being a small school, I heard buzz around campus that it was popular on Facebook.
So the only facts we can reveal about one Buzz we spoke to is that he s a fifth-year biology major, premed, and this is his second year donning the wings and stinger. No one ever showed up at a game out here expecting to see a Georgia Tech game, and no one ever showed up out there looking to go to a Salt Lake Buzz game.
They can appear in the crown of the tree, often as a result of bud or shoot proliferation. The density of branches within the broom can vary greatly, ranging from just a few branches to hundreds or even thousands. The appearance of a witch's broom can sometimes be mistaken for a bird's nest, as it forms a compact cluster of branches.
Intimidating yellowjackets and copyright legality: The surprising history of UR’s latest mascot
In 2015, the UR Baja Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team wanted to make merchandise using an original design they created of Rocky — a design which can only truly be described accurately as “badass”. But once UR found out about “Ricky the Honeybee,” the Baja team was told not to use it at all. Why? Because the orientation of Rocky is actually really important.
In 2008, UR decided to change the school’s mascot from URBee to what we know today as Rocky. At least 3,400 members of the UR community agreed that URBee was too cute for UR Athletics, and the new mascot needed to be “intimidating” and have an edge.
URBee gave the following parting statement : “I didn’t have the name. I didn’t have the looks. I didn’t even have the fingers for downs and quarters. But I had heart, and I wore it on my sleeve each and every day. I like to think that counts for something.”
That same year, our beloved Rocky made their stunning debut during a basketball game.
But Rocky has a doppelganger: Meet Buzz , Georgia Institute of Technology’s mascot, who debuted in 1980. Buzz is also a yellowjacket. Buzz is also a very intimidating yellowjacket. To some, Buzz may look very similar to UR’s own intimidating yellowjacket, Rocky.
Rocky’s design is based heavily on UR’s own history with the insects. The yellowjacket mascot was first introduced in the 1920s and went through several variations until landing at the current iteration.
Georgia Institute of Technology was involved in the 2008 redesign process of Rocky, but the details of UR and Georgia Institute of Technology’s agreement are not publically available. There is an agreement between the schools that allows the bees to coexist.
Comparing the two, there are some clear distinctions. The orientation of Rocky and Buzz is different. Rocky will almost always be forward-facing, and must always have the “R” on its chest. UR’s official guidelines on custom Rocky designs is to treat Rocky like a paper doll according to the UR Identity Guide .
Georgia Tech has been in mascot rumbles in the past. In 2017, the town of Damascus in Maryland wanted to paint their high school mascot, the Swarmin’ Hornets, on their water tower to celebrate the town’s high school football team. The town raised the money to get their own intimidating hornet on the water tower until Georgia Institute of Technology stepped in and shut it down.
In years prior, Georgia Tech had requested that the Damascus High School change their mascot to not be so similar to Buzz, and a licensing agreement was signed. The agreement did not include a painting of the hornet on the water tower, which Georgia Tech was quick to point out.
In 1988, Georgia Tech filed a copyright infringement suit against a minor league baseball team in Salt Lake City called the Buzz, and who also had an intimidating yellowjacket as their mascot. The Salt Lake City baseball team lost the lawsuit, and had to pay Georgia Tech $600,000 dollars .
The team’s lawyer, Gregory D. Phillips, commented on the suit to the Chronicle of Higher Education .
“Georgia Tech might think their mascot is famous, [but] no one here has ever heard of them,” he said. “No one ever showed up at a game out here expecting to see a Georgia Tech game, and no one ever showed up out there looking to go to a Salt Lake Buzz game.”
The non-public agreement between UR and Georgia Institute of Technology seems to have prevented a “bumble” between the two universities.
Rocky and Buzz do have their differences as intimidating yellowjackets, but it can be difficult to differentiate which yellowjackets UR departments, clubs, and organizations can use. The UR Identity guide has been made to help navigate the UR yellowjacket identity and mascot world of intimidating yellowjackets.
The UR Baja SAE team is not the only group to accidentally venture into the confusion of what Rocky imagery can be used. When the Campus Times was creating our newspaper-themed Rocky design, we ran into the cut and paste game of intimidating yellowjackets, too. If you were to go to the bottom floor of Meliora Hall at the moment, you might find this sign:
An image of Buzz found in Meloria Hall. Melanie Earle, Features Editor
Look a little off? That’s actually Buzz. That yellowjacket goes against the UR Identity Guidelines, and is not Rocky.
Rocky’s image has been carefully curated to not bug the other intimidating yellowjackets, which is why UR’s so protective of the way it looks.
What URBee lacked in intimidation in 2008, he at least made up for in heart and copyright legality.
“He’s super-curious, super-hyper and crazy unpredictable,” Buzz says. "You have to do full sprints, jump up walls and run through people. It gets very tiring -- and it’s very, very hot in Atlanta.”
However, upon closer inspection, the branching pattern is distinctly different from a bird's nest. Witch's brooms can have both positive and negative impacts on trees. In some cases, they can enhance the aesthetic value of the tree, especially in ornamental gardens or bonsai. They can also serve as nesting sites for birds or provide shelter for other organisms. On the other hand, severe infestations of witch's brooms can weaken the affected tree. The dense growth can block sunlight and hinder the tree's ability to produce energy through photosynthesis. This can lead to stunted growth and reduced overall health. Furthermore, some witch's brooms are caused by pathogenic organisms that can spread to other trees, causing more extensive damage. In these cases, it is important to identify and treat the underlying cause to prevent further spread and protect neighboring trees. In conclusion, a witch's broom is an abnormal growth pattern in trees characterized by the formation of a dense cluster of small branches. While it can have aesthetic value in some cases, severe infestations can negatively impact the health of the tree. Understanding the causes and effects of witch's brooms can help in managing and protecting tree populations from further damage..
Reviews for "The Witch's Broom: An Enigmatic Object of Power and Mystery"
1. Rachel - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "What is a witches broom called". The book felt very basic and lacked any depth or substance. The information provided was extremely limited and didn't go into any real detail about the topic. I was hoping to learn more about the history and symbolism of witches' brooms, but instead, I was met with a few generic sentences. Overall, I think this book is a missed opportunity and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - This book was a complete waste of time. The title might lead you to believe that it would provide interesting and informative content about witches' brooms, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The book is incredibly short, and it felt like the author just scraped the surface without delving into any meaningful information. The writing itself was also very poor, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. Save your money and find a better resource if you're actually interested in learning about witches' brooms.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "What is a witches broom called" to be a disappointment. The book lacked any engaging writing style or flow, making it difficult to stay interested in the information being presented. Additionally, the limited content provided was very basic and didn't offer anything new or insightful. It felt like the author just skimmed through the topic without putting much effort into researching or providing any unique perspectives. Overall, I was left wanting more from this book and would not recommend it to others.
4. Alex - 2/5 stars - As someone who has always been fascinated by witchcraft and its history, "What is a witches broom called" fell short of my expectations. The book barely scratched the surface of the topic, providing only rudimentary information without delving into any depth or context. I was hoping for a more comprehensive exploration of the significance and symbolism behind witches' brooms, but was left disappointed by the lack of substance. The writing style was also quite dry, making it difficult to stay engaged. I would recommend looking for other resources if you're genuinely interested in learning about witches' brooms.