Strange plant in my Garden.

[alicat]

Look at this growing in my garden.

[4pygmies]

Oooer...poor sunflower....what did you do to it Ali?? It's got in a right muddle hasn't it? I wonder if you collected seeds from it, if they would do the same?

[alicat]

I don't know what I did to it - I blame the kids or the cats

[sweetleaf]

It looks like fasciation, heres a link, have a look and see what you think

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0700/fasciation.asp

[alicat]

Thanks SL

I hadn't thought of that - I've seen it before and think it's amazing.

Just checked the plant and it's one that had got broken and regrown a new stem just below the break, so it makes sense.

It's nearly open now - so I will take another photo when I get chance.

[owdboggy]

Sadly it is not genetic so any seed from any thus affected plant will not continue to show the same variation.

[jonah]

I had similar Ali. A big headed sunflower with a baby poking out the middle, almost as if it had swallowed a little one! It looked very strange. ;D

[alicat]

owdboggy said:

Sadly it is not genetic so any seed from any thus affected plant will not continue to show the same variation.

Thanks OB

It's a shame in a way don't you think Some fasciation plants I have seen would look great, very different I grant you, but unusual all the the same.

Hi Jonah

I would love to see that, do you have a picture.

[jonah]

I don't think I have.

To be honest, my sunflowers were quite a disappointment, so I don't remember snapping them! I'm sure they were pretty much over by july, and leaning at 45 degrees, obviously the canes I used weren't up to the wet, windy summer. :
I'll check the garden album though.