Do plants get cancer?

Question

Do plants get cancer?

Answer 1

In a sense, yes they can.

"Cancer" is just the uncontrolled division of cells.  When some plants are exposed to the right irritant or chemicals they too can produce abnormal, uncontrolled, or what's called hypertrophic, growth.  Most people call these growths "Witch's brooms" because of the many branches of new growth that are produced.  See these photos of examples:  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/livenature/...

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougcwaylet...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hedgerowmob...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30592630@N0...

http://www.mwrop.org/W_Needham/Pictures/...

(I've seen this in response to insect attack and auto emissions)