Floribundle

I returned to where last year* I found a fasciated rosebay willowherb, an unusual plant aberration which creates a fan-like effect of stalk or flower (even fruit, hence those monster strawberries).  Sure enough, it was there again, this time the flower stalk was still in bud which gave a chance to see the way that the growing tip, normally a single  point, had multiplied and fused into a crest-like structure. (The word fasciation comes from the Latin for a bundle, fasces - the same root as fascist.) 

There's much more information about fasciation to be found online now than when I first looked it up including this wonderful Flickr album of images - fascinating, yes, but that word comes from fascinum 'a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the neck used in Ancient Rome'... er, what?? (Something to do with witchcraft!)

* To be seen in extra pics accompanying this blip.

Apologies if anyone's been wondering about my absence from Blip but I've been otherwise engaged and haven't found time to keep up.