What does a broom tree look like?
Question:
In I Kings 19:4-5, it talks about a 'broom tree.' Do you happen to know what kind of tree this is? Maybe you might have a picture of it? I am assuming that this name refers to the usage of the various tree parts. To be used as a broom. Do you know if this is true?
Answer:
The broom tree is actually a large desert shrub in the juniper family. There is a good write up on it at Botany Photo of the Day. Most of the time it is a collection of green twigs, ideal for a desert environment, but during the wet season it will put on small leaves, and even flower, as seen in the picture to the right. The biological name for the shrub is Ratema raetem.
