Fasciation

Fasciation is a form of monstrosity not uncommon in plants. The growing apex loses its usual conical shape and becomes greatly extended in one diameter, so as to produce a broad band-shaped growing-point. This may continue to widen until it has reached many times the normal breadth without any proportional increase in thickness, and often becomes thrown into irregular folds, the leaf arrangement becoming correspondingly confused. Cases of fasciation occur not unfrequently in the ash-tree, the auricula, daisy, and other common plants, and constantly in the cultivated Cockcomb (q.v.). Such growths are with Welsh Gypsies an object of superstitious reverence.