Botanical Nerd Word: Fasciated

Berberis branch showing abnormal, flattened growth

Fasciated: Compressed into a bundle or band; grown closely together; with the stems malformed and flattened as if several separate stems had been fused together.*

One of the Berberis in the Show Garden has produced some fasciated growth this year. Notice the flat, wide stem in the centre of the photo compared to the regular, rounded stems on either side.

*Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.