Fasciation in a Brug

This is a fasciated Culebra. It was healthy until the grasshoppers ate most of the top this past summer. It grew back and looked okay for a while. The pot was difficult to get to. So from a distance it looked fine. Yesterday, I was curious enough to make my way to it.

Description of fasciation: from Wikipedia:

This what she looks like from the side. The fasciated portion is about 10" tall.

This close-up of the top shows it splits into at least 3 parts.

So, Betty, what will you do with your plant? Do you leave it as is? Do you prune it off?

I'm curious enough that I'm going to leave it.

I think I might do the same, if I were you. It will be interesting. Thanks for showing it to us.

very interesting
thanks
cassie

It's certainly fascinating to see an induced mutation like this, but I'd be careful about leaving it in place --those grasshoppers might have infected it with a virus, or mites carrying a virus, which could spread to your other plants. Mutations are fascinating but usually diminish or destroy the plant's real esthetics.

I would isolate it and make sure any cuttings, clipping and debris are thrown directly into the trash or burned, tools cleaned extremely well after use on this plant.

A virus definitely came to mind until I read the literature. If a live agent causes fasciation, it is either a bacterium or a fungus. None of the literature I've read on fasciation has call this a mutation, but even if it is, not all mutations are undesirable. Variegated Brugs are mutations. So are the multi-skirted Brugs.

I will, however, keep her away from my other Brugs to be on the safe side. She appears to be very healthy. She's even free of the dreaded spider mites that are on some of my Brugs right now.

I have had this happen twice, but never at the top. Mine where both at the bottom and near where I had removed a basal shoot. I just assumed they where caused by the cutting at that part of the plant. I removed the clusters and they never came back and the plants are still going strong.

These are sometimes called a witches broom.

I've had witches bloom down at the bottom of a Brug where I cut a branch off, but it wasn't the same. Witches broom comes up as tons of little shoots that don't get very large. I'll look for it to see if there are any changes when I take my Brugs out of the greenhouse. I noticed it as I was re-arranging the plants so I could get around to water the plants. Then I lost track of it. This is what it looked like on 12/22/09.

I wish I had in on a few of my plumeria I think its neat

Betty, I've experienced the Witche's Broom also, but it's not nearly as eye-popping as your first photo. That looks unbelievable! I, too, would leave it be.

Fascinating.

I will have to pot on when I take it out of the greenhouse. I'll post what it does later on.

I have encountered this several times with seedlings, but never with an established cultivar. For me the outcome was never good as the plant eventually succumbed to fungal problems.

Fred

Do you know what caused the fungal problem? Was it because the leaves were so close together and not enough air circulation.

Fortunately, I still have another healthy Culebra. So if this one dies, I won't be without one. I do plant to keep it away from the other Brugs just to be safe. Thanks Fred.

Well it certainly adds character to a plant, but I hope you don't lose it.


Doris