FASCIATION IN THE CHERRY. 
35 
remarkable spots in Iowa where boreal plants have been pre¬ 
served. In northeastern Clayton County, not far from Alla¬ 
makee County, in a bog of considerable size there are evidences 
of glacial drift. In this bog occurs the white-leaved willow 
(Salix Candida ) and a few other northern bog plants, like Meny- 
arithes trifoliaia and Gentiana crinita. At present the bog is being 
drained by a large ditch that has cut its way through for a con¬ 
siderable distance. In the peat which falls into this ditch there 
have been found several large buffalo skulls. 
FASCIATION IN THE CHERRY. 
By Jacob Schneck, M.D. 
The accompanying illustration gives examples of fasciation in 
two vigorous sprouts of wild black cherry (Prunus serotina 
Ebrb. ), which appear to be of especial interest, from the light 
they may throw on the question of the nature of this phenomenon 
in plant life. 
It has been claimed that fasciation, in plants, is a “ monstrous 
expansion, caused by the coalescence of several stems in one 
plane,” or a “ deformity caused by a diseased growth, from the 
sting of an insect.” The latter view has more to do with the 
cause than the nature of the phenomenon. 
The specimen on the left has the appearance of complete ad¬ 
hesion of all the component branches. The striae are probably 
not the lines of union; but more likely are the continuation of 
the outlines of the fibro-vascular bundles, leading from the super¬ 
posed leaves and buds, down the common stem. On close inspec¬ 
tion each stria is found to lead up to a bud or leaf. The speci¬ 
men on the right is doubly interesting, showing in the lower por¬ 
tion complete adhesion, while in the upper portion some of the 
members of the fascicles have separated themselves into' distinct 
branches, and have continued to grow in the normal way. The 
sidewise curling is probably due to the greatly retarded growth 
on the side toward which it turns ; while the growing points on 
