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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 29, 2015

First year for my witch hazel "Jelena"

Few blooms end winter and now the leaves have emerged ( just a few weeks ago - maybe 2 - 3 tops. )
Today, I see these thorn-shaped things on many leaves. The leaves look healthy. Is this normal or is it a parasite? If yes, any idea what sort and what I must do? Thanks in advance for any help.

The first photo is the back of leaf.. The 'thorn' shaped things are green and red. Not sure if green initially going red or the other way around - as I mentioned first day seeing it.

This message was edited Apr 29, 2015 9:35 PM

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) May 02, 2015

Bumping this in the hope someone will recognize this and respond.

Have a leaf in a baggie to see if anything emerges.

So far, nothing.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) May 03, 2015

I THINK this is a gall. Maybe not.
Insects can lay eggs just under the skin of the leaf, then the leaf grows 'funny'. The tissue is somehow better food for the developing larva than the intact leaf.

I know that sort of thing is very common on oaks, there are many types of leaf gall insects. Often wasps, but also other pests.

Usually the damage is not enough to harm the plant, though it can be unsightly. You could just remove those few leaves (if it is not too many).

10 seconds to google it:
Try Cone Gall Aphid!

Post #10066677
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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) May 04, 2015

I will look.
It is a fall planted Jalena witchhazel. A lot of leaves affected. I took a pruning shear and cut open the thorn head ( truly the size of med- large rose thorn.) and exposed a hollowed region. . It was 1/4 filled with white powdery substance that looked like fluffy confectioners sugar. I will google your suggestion so clearly a parasite of some sort and not part of the witchazel. I tried a bunch of descriptors of what I was seeing to google but never hit on anything. Thank you so much.

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