This giant cardon cactus has produced a branch with abnormal, fan-shaped growth, often termed a "monstrose" growth form, unlike the normal,
cylindrical growth. Such events are quite rare in wild plants (but a more spectacular example of this can be found in saguaro cacti). Commercial
cactus growers sometimes induce this type of growth form by damaging the meristem of a plant, to produce a decorative effect. In field conditions this
abnormality might arise from damage caused by frost or an insect, etc. Once it has been formed, this type of growth is often perpetuated in all the
subsequent growth of the branch - as in this case, where monstrose sub-branches have developed from the original branch.
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