Fascinating Fasciation

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Last week I was walking along a busy street with friends Gayla and Davin, when I saw an unusual sight growing out of the edge of the sidewalk. it was a common Dandylion flower that that through the process of fasciation and had become elaborately contorted. This occurs in Nature when a flower, leaf , stem or root of a plant mutates as a result of bacterial infection or insect attack or some inherited trait. Luckily Gayla was able to record this on her IPhone, as when I returned with a camera, a few days later, the flower had already gone to seed. At that time I discovered several other fasciated (sometimes refered to as crested) Dandylion flowers, which makes me suspect that this occurrence was caused by insect infestation.
The fasciated Dandylion photographed by Gayla.
Several days later it had gone to seed.
Fasciation is commonly seen in Cactus and are prized by certain collectors. This Opuntia subulata cristata is one of my favourites.
Echiverias too take on fantastic forms when fasciated, this one has been turned into a charming hedgehog.

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