Freaky flowers - wacky aberrations

[Maggi Young]

Sometimes these aberrations are caused by an outside influence, sometimes by physical or chemical damage... as I suspect to be the case in the Eastleigh senecio. weedkiller spray has damaged the plant, but not killed it and the growth of the   shoot has been distorted by the effects of the poison.


 You do get around , Stephen, with or without your camera !
 

[Stephenb]

Diane: A superb example!

Maggi: Yes, weedkiller is a definite possibility - wouldn't be any good having weeds at the town hall, would it? Re- getting around - pretty well always job related; luckily I can usually take a few days off to explore...

[Paddy Tobin]

Unfortunately, I don't have a photograph but have seen an ash, Fraxinus excelsior, in Kilmacurragh Gardens in County Wicklow, Ireland, where all the branches are fasciated. It is a mature tree and is, I have been told by the head gardener there, the only example in existence.

It's not an attractive sight but interesting nonetheless.

Paddy

[Stephenb]

...and then there's this cristate form of Sedum reflexum which is constant from year to year:

[Lesley Cox]

I quite often have a stem of Primula viali like the one above, fasciated for whatever reason. Not spraying, as I don't. Likewise, I've had the Inula grow like Diane's. When it opens right out, the flowers is in an elongated mass, matching the one shown. It's a plant which is always monocarpic with me.

[Blue-bellied Frog]

I often see Cornus canadensis with double flower, but only when late blooming (July-August).
Echinacea purpurea with double flower on the same stem.
And an Aster alpinus with a special hair cut.

[Roma]

This snowdrop with the extra petal on the ovary was one in a pot of 3 I bought at the local Garden Centre last February.

[Ragged Robin]

Echinacea purpurea with double flower on the same stem

Quite extraordinary, Bernard 

[Ragged Robin]

This snowdrop with the extra petal on the ovary was one in a pot of 3 I bought at the local Garden Centre last February.

Wonder what it will do next time it flowers Roma 

[Armin]

Here my freaky flowers.
 
Double flower on C. chrysanthus Goldilocks (two flowers in one stem) and C. kotschyanus (genetical defect clone)

The first appeared accidental (likely caused by late planting) and is reversible,
the genetical defect is non-reversible.

[Lesley Cox]

I hope you have destroyed the second one Armin. It is really horrid and un-crocus-like.

[Armin]

Lesley,
it is in plants heaven!

[Stephenb]

One of the wackiest aberrations is this topset onion cultivar Catawissa, found in the US near its namesake town in the mid-1800s, also known as walkabout onion as it gradually moves around as the topsets plant themselves every year. I call it infinity or recurring onion as I imagine it continuing to send up a new top set, for ever if given the chance, under perfect conditions. Here's a picture of a 3 story plant. Anyone better this?

Secondly, a Rocambole (Allium scorodoprasum ssp scorodoprasum) starting to do the same  - is it catching? Well, it's quite common and I've seen this on 5 or 6 different species.

A collective term: Tiered Onions or better - Teared onions (for the effect they have on us cooks...)

[annew]

A collective term: Tiered Onions or better - Teared onions (for the effect they have on us cooks...)

[Stephenb]

This one probably fits in here too. Witch's Broom is probably best known in our part of the world on birch and is caused by a fungus, Taphrina betulina. I have a few birches in my garden so affected. I was out skiing at the weekend and passed a pine tree , Pinus sylvestris, with a couple  of well developed "Witch's Brooms". It's quite rare on pine and spruce trees.  Unlike birch it isn't caused by a fungus, and is most likely caused by repeated grazing by a Capercaillie, a bird-induced aberration in other words... Incidentally, I've just learnt that Capercaillie means literally "the Great Cock of the Wood".  Trees affected in this way are known here as "Beitefuru" which literally translates as grazing-pine...