I found these in the yard yesterday. After some searching, I found some information on fasciation. Does anyone know how common this defect is? I saw some pics of daylillies that did the same thing. They're kind of interesting, I'm not sure if I should cut 'em or leave 'em.
Kevin
They sure are unique. I've never seen flowers do that before.
Uh oh, I hate to mention this but one reason for deformed flowers is Aster Yellows. Here's a link to an article, if you google it you can find much more info. It's a plant disease spread by leaf hoppers.
"Infection early in the growing season will almost always cause stunting, shortened internodes, and dwarfed, deformed or lopsided flower heads."
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf1086.pdf
Hope it turns out to be something less harmful, I've read it can be hard to tell if a plant really has AY or something else.
There is a mite that causes this problem too.
I have a snapdragon doing the same thing- one stem on the plant- the rest are normal- the plant survived winter here. I will let it bloom and see what happens.
That's not Aster Yellows, it's a phenomenon called fasciation that is common in Composite flowers.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/rudbeckiaproblem06.html
BTW, fasciation is responsible for some ornamental aspects of cultivated plants. Fantail willow is fasciated (flat stems), as are "Brain Cacti"
Check out this link of a fasciated lily- strange, yet beautiful.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lily/msg0702122820944.html
Here's my fasciated Snapdragon blooming- the flowers are huge and beautiful- unlike any of the other stems! All my tall snaps that survived the winter are giants this year.
This is a blooming doublesided Tickseed . I had 3 in my yard this year. Normal seedpods.
Those are some space-age looking plants! Very interesting.
I call it " Plants on some hard drugs!" Wierd looking flowers..definately a conversation piece; hope you're not having a garden tour group come through anytime this week. LOL!
The phenomena, "Fasciation" in stems & flower heads occur when multiple buds fuse together and form a flattened stem structure. Here is a link that adds a little more information: http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/pow/fasciated_plants.htm
Usually, fasciation is a somatic event (in vegetative cells), not a genetic mutation that will be inherited through seeds. However, you could try collecting seeds from the stem and see if any of the offspring look weird.
I have added a NE Buttercup found this Spring (2011) in my horse lot.
Wow. A buttercup bouquet!
I had a lily do that.It had over 30 buds on a flat stem.
I have an Asiatic lily doing the same. Wierd !!! BEV
It fell over because it was so tall.
I have seen dandelions do that! Kinda neat!
