FASCIATION IN ASPARAGUS 



One woukl hardly recognize the common asparagus in this picture. These pecuharly flattened 

 stems represent a phenomenon termed fasciation, which is not as yet well understood by 

 scientists. It may be caused by fungi, insects, over-nutrition, or a variety of other things. 

 The usual symjjtom is a much-flattened stem, as may be seen in the above illustration 

 where both the flat and the narrow views are shown. Fasciation may be found in many 

 plants, occurring frequently in the pineapple, the dandelion and the common a|)ple. The 

 flowers are often aff'ected. Aside from distorting the appearance, little harm is done to 

 the plant. Fasciation is sometimes heritable. (Fig. 5.) 



