Cristate (or Crested) and Monstrose plants are fascinating freaks of nature. Normal plants usually grow from a single point at the tip of the stem, or an areole in the case of cacti that branch or offset. Cristate plants grow along many points along a line that usually undulates and twists. Monstrose plants grow from random points and usually produce plants that are assymetrical and covered in knobby bumps and whorls. This produces some very interesting effects. When this occurs along with variegation a spectacular plant can be produced, such as the variegated crested Cereus ferbambuscensis below. Many of these plants can be strangely beautiful and for this reason are highly desired and prized by collectors.
     The mechanism behind Cristation and Monstrosity is not entirely understood. It can be a natural mutation. It is also thought that damage to the growth point by insects or disease can produce it. But no one has successfuly produced the effect artificially. Some plants actually can seem to exhibit chracteristics of both phenomena. Many Crested and Monstrose plants are often grafted to speed growth and make them hardier and easier to grow. Some can't be grown any other way.

Something I never saw before, a crested Aeononium "Schwartskopf"	A monstrose cultivar of Astrophytum myriostigma called "Lotus Land"	An extremely rare variegated and monstrose form of Astrophytum kotschoubeyanus	Crested and monstrose? Cereus fernambucensis
A monstrose Cereus hildmannianus miniature known as "Ming Thing"	A fixture in my garden, monstrose Cereus hildmannianus, large size	One of my favorites, a Cereus spegazzinii crest turned purple by sun	The same plant earlier in the season
A closer view of the beautifully marbled blue stems	A nearly normal cutting and a crested cousin.	Another pair of cuttings I call "The Horseheads"	A Cleistocactus winteri crest in my yard that unfortunately rotted
Another Cleistocactus winteri crest that I de-grafted	A small Crested Cereus that I de-grafted	Probably a cousin of the previous plant, a crested Cereus fernambucensis	Another view of the same plant in different light
A more compact variety of the same plant	Crested Echinopsis or Mammilaria?	A very large specimen of crested Espostoa at B&B Cactus Farm	An unidentified crested Euphorbia, also at B&B
A group of crests planted together	A Crested myrtillocactus geometrizans I degrafted	Gotten in a trade with a friend in Phoenix a Cylindropuntia fulgida ssp. mammilata crest	Another specimen of the same plant
A view from the other side	Either an Echeveria setosa or perhaps an Echevria "Doris Taylor" crest	A view from the top of the same plant	A grafted Echinocereus pectinatus crest
A closeup view of the interesting spination	A grafted Espostoa ritterii crest	A Euphorbia flanagannii crest	An unvariegated Euphorbia lactea crest at B&B Cactus Farm
A huge variegated grafted Euphorbia lactea crest at Bachs Cactus Nursery	A second one at the same place	A grafted Leuchtenbergia principis monstrose from Miles Anderson	Another view of the same plant
A monstrose cultivar of Mammillaria bocasana just called "Fred"	A closer view of the growth points of the plant	An unidentified Mammillaria crest at B&B cactus Farm	A giant clump of Mammillaria geminispina with some cresting at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix
Cylindropuntia subulata crests At Tanque Verde Gardens	A grafted Rebutia canuigeralii crest from Miles Anderson	Another view of the same plant	Trying to root a piece of it
A Rebutia einsteinii crest from Miles Anderson	Another view in different light	An Unknown Crest at a TCSS Show