What's wrong with this picture?

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Aug 24, 2011 8:37 am

I was out getting some hosta flower pictures and noticed this Hacksaw flower head looked odd.

: Hacksaw

The flower on top should not be there because they flower from the bottom of the scape first. You can see unopened buds below it.

It has fused scapes:

: Hacksaw fused scapes

: Hacksaw

I picked up Richard Ford's hosta book " HOSTAS An essential guide" and in there he uses the term "fasciated" for this type of scape in his chapter labeled "Pests, diseases and disorders of Hostas". I never thought of it as a "disorder" but just a random event and with hosta you get a lot of them.

This is my second fused scape this season.

Pieter · Post by **Pieter** » Aug 24, 2011 9:31 am

I don't think of it as a disorder either, Ed. It has been suggested the root cause of fasciation lies in early spring when the shoots are beginning to develop, wide temperature swings at that stage of growth supposedly are the root cause. I have seen fasciation happen in my garden with not just hostas, but lilies as well. It's kinda neat to look at.

Pieter

Linda P · Post by **Linda P** » Aug 24, 2011 9:34 am

I don't think of it as a 'disorder' either, but rather an occasional oddity. I've had a lot of them this year, and
I really think they are cool to look at.

Linda P

Mark Raw · Post by **Mark Raw** » Aug 25, 2011 2:40 am

I have had some of mine do this too. was told its fasciataion prob caused by some sort of minor damage as it emerges Can't remember whixh hosta was prone to it but it looks cool

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Sep 05, 2011 5:45 pm

Just found Guacamole and Paradise Sunshine with fused scapes - just one scape on each. Both plants have numerous normal scapes and are planted in the same area.

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Sep 21, 2011 10:59 pm

I was getting pictures of tardifolia flowers this morning and noticed one of its scapes was fused.

kHT · Post by **kHT** » Sep 21, 2011 11:37 pm

We have seen this happen from Hostas to sunflowers to Brugmansia to daturas. I swear it's due to cooler temps that hit during the growing state. This year we had a sunflower with many blooms due to it.

Mark Raw · Post by **Mark Raw** » Sep 22, 2011 2:22 am

It seems to happen when there is some sort of damage to the growing tip either crushed touched or as you say frost as for as I know its called fasiation it may only happen for that one year and never seems to effect the leaves just the flowers or the scapes it always looks good though when or if it happens, as far as I know the plant isnt affected in any way