Cristation

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 9 June 2008 in Plant & Nature.

In the miraculous world of botany cristation is a special freak of nature. "Fasciation or cristation is an abnormal development of an apical meristem characterized by indeterminate proliferative growth. A plant becomes crested when its apex develops laterally from a linear meristem rather than a single point." (Source) Cristated plants often look weird, the growing forms sometimes resemble tumors, though it's not an illness: cristated plants are as healthy as non-cristated forms. They are especially beautiful at cacti and ferns, but also other vascular plants can have it. This is the first cristated conifer I ever noticed.

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Comments (9)

bm from Budapest, Hungary

very interesting and really beautifully captured.

9 Jun 2008 9:58am

@bm: Thanks a lot! We have some cristated cacti in stock, I'll post some photos of them later :)

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

I've seen a plastic ball that copies this growth, I think they copied the cristation.

9 Jun 2008 5:45pm

@JoeB: Now that you mention it - think I've also seen toys like this... Weird, isn't it? :-D

observing from Chester, United Kingdom

Very good image MS, obviously some kind of mutation of the code.

10 Jun 2008 12:24am

@observing: Something that all vascular plants have in common, very interesting indeed!
Btw: some weeks ago you published a photo of an 'embossed' leaf, and I promised to look after the name of that plant. I found something: most likely it's from the Tibouchina genus. There are several species, I don't know which one is yours, but I'm sure it's from this family.

Nona from Savannah, United States

It looks like a fuzzy green armchair.

10 Jun 2008 2:23am

@Nona: This effect looks even weirder on cacti! However, I've never seen a cristated conifer before. The funny thing is that the plant might switch on or off that behaviour depending on various circumstances.

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

Always nice to learn something every day . . I shall be on the lookout for this genetic departure, now. Thanks, MS.

10 Jun 2008 2:25am

@Ronnie 2¢: I see you're living in UK - then I would start with ferns.

Laurent from Lyon, France

It is the first time I see something like. thanks for sharing

10 Jun 2008 4:58am

@Laurent: It's a feature that is usually regarded as some kind of illness, but it indeed has its very own beauty. Here's a book on the subject.

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

Looks like a duster, rather futuristic! But...most interested! Thank you for the explanations!

10 Jun 2008 3:12pm

@Japanalia: The most interesting effects this growth variation has in cacti. My wife has a nice collection, think I will make some cactus portraits in the future... :)