FASCIATION. 1] 
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 
Aitna, 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 Taxus 
baceata mentioned by Moquin, and also in the aerial 
roots of many of the tropical climbing plants, such as 
Clusia rosea, &e. 
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 

Fie. 3.—Fasciation in Lettuce. 
from the softness of the young tissues. In this way it 
is probable that what is termed fasciation is brought 
1 See a curious instance of this kind in the branches of Pinus. 
‘ Regel. Garten Flora,’ vol. 8, tab. 268. 
