FASCIATION. 



11 



directions, lengthwise, obliquely, or transversely, ac- 

 cording to circumstances. This mode -of union belongs, 

 perhaps, rather to the domain of pathology than of tera- 

 tology. Some of the instances that have been recorded 

 of very large trees, such as the chestnut of Mount 

 ^tna, are really cases where fusion has taken place 

 between several of the branches, or suckers, thrown out 

 from the same original stem.^ The same process of 

 grafting occurs sometimes in the roots, as in Tai'us 

 baccata mentioned by Moquin, and also in the aerial 

 roots of many of the tropical climbing plants, such as 

 Glmia rosea, &c. 



Fasciation. In the preceding instances of union 

 between the branches, &c., the actual number of the 

 fused parts is not increased ; but if it happen that an 

 unusual number of buds be formed in close apposition, 

 so that they are Hable to be compressed during their 

 growth, union is very likely to take place, the more so 



Fig. 3. Fasciation in Lettuce. 



from the softness of the young tissues. In this way it 

 is probable that what is termed fasciation is brought 



* See a curious instance of this kind in the branchos of Piniu. 

 ' Regel. Garten Flora,' vol. 8, tab. 268. 



