Fascinating fasciation

Walking by Portobello’s newest curiosity, a mutated plant, is Marcela Nicholson and her dog, Skippy, yesterday.

The plant belongs to Yvonne Sutherland, who said she had never seen anything like it in her life.

She said the "bizarre" plant was "almost spooky" and called it by many names, including "creature" and "apparition".

However, the truth is far less supernatural. Botanic Garden collections supervisor Dylan Norfield said the echium plant had undergone a mutation known as fasciation.

The mutation could be caused by many factors, such as hormonal imbalances and unusual environmental conditions, but was more common in some species than others.

It was not infectious and could not spread from one plant to another.

If trimmed below the point of the fasciation the new growth should appear as normal, he said.