Weird palmate growth on willow

[spandit]

I have some really fast growing willow, common sallow, I think (osier viminalis) that I have used for making living structures etc. as it's so easy to propagate. My next door neighbour has a shed and greenhouse which aren't especially pretty and I planted some cuttings along the fence line to create a hedge.

 

Went to trim it today and found that one of the stems has failed to separate and instead has fused into a flat piece, like a fallow antler. It was completely unobstructed, growing freely and the other ones around it have grown normally. Anyone seen something like this before? Not easy to tell from my pictures but it's about 5mm thick front to back (in the one where I'm holding it)

[kkk2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciation

I think

[spandit]

Certainly looks like it, thanks

[Steve Bullman]

2 minutes ago, kkk2 said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciation

I think

Yep thats the one. Not exactly rare I don't think, although I have only seen it myself a handful of times.

[Tommy_B]

Seen it a lot on Ash

[nepia]

Not unique to trees.  Saw a lot of it on some Ox Eye Daisies in Scotland some years back but they were only a few miles from a nuclear research establishment - Dounreay Daisies!