I was going to say I recently observed something similar on my Belinda's dream after Along rain. However, upon closer inspection of your second picture I'm not so sure. I would probably cut that whole thing right down to the ground after having sprayed it with hairspray and bagged it. It looks like you have healthy growth elsewhere so I wouldn't take a chance. Sometimes these things Grow out and perfectly normal but the clustering the color and the thorns just look to abnormal. I would love to see a picture of this from a slightly further Position to see how it Difference from the surrounding growth. I would still cut it out however.
