It's all in the genes.
By bigbumblebee
22 comments
It’s about time I doused the fires of curiosity that are burning out there, fuelled by this photo.
When I asked ‘what is it?’ one or two of you were perfectly correct in saying ‘bindweed’. But, that’s not really what I meant. It’s what has happened to the bindweed that interested me. I hope it will you, too, and I’ll do my best not to send you to sleep while I explain something that no doubt every gardener will come across at some time or other.
It’s a phenomenon known as fasciation (fay-see-ay-shun), a condition that’s known to affect approximately 100 different vascular (having fluid-carrying vessels) plants. Stems that would normally be round, appear flattened, and look as though a number of stems have fused together. Any sideshoots usually fail to develop properly, but this bindweed obviously hasn’t read the manual!
It’s even developing flower-buds from the fasciated stem.
It can be caused by random genetic disruption, for example when the plant is stressed and cell production goes into overdrive. It can also be initiated by infection by the bacterium that causes leafy gall disease.
The condition is unpredictable and usually limited to a single stem. It seldom recurs the following year, although some plants appear to have a genetic tendency towards recurrence.
In some plants with ‘cristata’ in their nomenclature, fasciation is inbred and can be perpetuated by cuttings.
So next time you see a plant with a wide, flat stem instead of a round one, you’ll know it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just nature throwing a wobbly!
All eventually goes back to normal and carries on as if nothing had happened.
27 Aug, 2009
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Comments
More like fasc IN ation!!
How strange!!
27 Aug, 2009
How weird BBB...bit like humans!
27 Aug, 2009
i have this on one of my shrubs. its odd but i like it.
27 Aug, 2009
Very odd, isn't it? Makes me inclined to think that we're descended from trees and that apes have nothing to do with it. If we're descended from apes, why are there still apes?
27 Aug, 2009
But then, why are there still trees?
27 Aug, 2009
Nice one. I never thought of that. Ah! Well. Back to the drawing board. LoL
27 Aug, 2009
LOL!
Good, I wasnt just not getting it then!! Wasnt too sure there!
27 Aug, 2009
I hope I see it before I forget what it was
27 Aug, 2009
Erm...what was it?
27 Aug, 2009
LOL!
27 Aug, 2009
Well thanks Bbb for that information.....I must confess that I havent noticed it on the troublesome area we have, coming from next door, but I shall go and look tomorrow....
27 Aug, 2009
It's very interesting to hear about things like that. I've never seen it but now I'll know what it is if I do .
27 Aug, 2009
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Sorry I'm a heavy sleeper, Lol X~))
27 Aug, 2009
We often get this in primulas and I have seen it in fritillaria.
28 Aug, 2009
Wey-hey, at last we know. Read it all and didn't nod off once. We all know how easily bored that Digs is! lol.
28 Aug, 2009
Sorry All, Bbb I had taken my meds so I do tend to get a bit 'daft' then. I enjoyed the blog really, just thought it would be a laugh to take you literally. Lol :~))
28 Aug, 2009
Thanks folks. Just come in and read the latest comments. So glad I didn't bore you all out of your trees.
Sorry, Ian; I didn't realise you were on meds. I thought you were like that ALL the time. Raofl.
28 Aug, 2009
i've seen it in primulas too Bulbaholic and in an olearia..i like it and the plant dont seem to mind.
28 Aug, 2009
The plants don't seem to mind and next year are quite likely to grow normally.
29 Aug, 2009
LMAO Bbb. :~)))
29 Aug, 2009
I've seen this on plants, too. I knew what it was called but it has been a long time since I last saw a plant like this.
Interesting blog & didn't send me to sleep either!
29 Aug, 2009
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I like it BBB and I am sure I have seen it on a plant but for the life of me I cant remember what one , thanks for the explanation , will lookout for it now.
27 Aug, 2009