Curling out from the hedge and looking very strange, the Bryony (Bryonia dioca) stem has been flattened out by an affliction called fascination. Fascination can occur in many plants making them look very strange. It occurs when the growing stems are damaged in some way, either by insects, viral or an inherited characteristic. The result is uneven growth within the stem so that rather than forming a sort of cylindrical aspect to the stem, it becomes flattened.
Many fascinated plants only last a season, no doubt this Bryony will as the top growth is herbaceous (growing for the season and dying back for winter).
13th June 2009
13th June 2008
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