Inosculation
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Inosculation is a natural phenomenon in which two trees, or more commonly the branches thereof, grow together. When occurring in plants, it is biologically very similar to grafting.
[edit] Occurrence
It is most common for branches of two trees of the same species to grow together, though it may be noted across related species. The branches first grow separately in proximity to each other until they touch. At this point the bark on the touching surfaces normally comes away due to movement of the trees by wind. Once the cambium of two trees touches, they self graft and grow together.
The art of deliberately grafting trees or shrubs together in this way to form hedges or other living ornamental structures is called pleaching
This word is also used in the context of plastic surgery as one of the three mechanisms by which skin grafts take at the host site (the others being capillary invasion and capillary ingrowth along original vascular channels). Blood vessels from the recipient site are believed to connect with those of the graft in order to restore vascularity.
[edit] Species
It is most common among the following species due to a thin bark.
