cedar-apple rust fungus on eastern red cedar tree at Lake Meyer Park IA 854A6951

This fruiting fungus looks like an orange octopus with all those fleshy orange arms. Following a spring shower, they "bloom" from a gall that formed two years ago on the cedar tree branch. Spores can carry on the wind for several miles to infect an apple tree where they blemish the leaves with orange spots and cause premature leaf drop.

Done