Alder Tongue Gall
Alder Tongue Gall / taphrina alni. Straws Bridge, Derbyshire. 14/08/18.
Another picture of a curious gall I found for the first time last summer.
Distinctly alien looking, it grows exclusively on Alder.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Taphrina alni is a fungal plant pathogen which causes the Alder Tongue Gall to grow on female catkins. These chemically induced growths distort the ovarian tissues of Alder catkins, creating tongue-like, contorted protuberances. The gall, called a 'languet', emerges from the outer scales and is green initially.
I had always wanted to find some as I was intrigued by their unique forms and alien quality. They were first discovered in the 1940's and considered to be quite rare then. However, since the 1990's more and more have been noted, which has changed their status to fairly common.
Alder Tongue Gall
Alder Tongue Gall / taphrina alni. Straws Bridge, Derbyshire. 14/08/18.
Another picture of a curious gall I found for the first time last summer.
Distinctly alien looking, it grows exclusively on Alder.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Taphrina alni is a fungal plant pathogen which causes the Alder Tongue Gall to grow on female catkins. These chemically induced growths distort the ovarian tissues of Alder catkins, creating tongue-like, contorted protuberances. The gall, called a 'languet', emerges from the outer scales and is green initially.
I had always wanted to find some as I was intrigued by their unique forms and alien quality. They were first discovered in the 1940's and considered to be quite rare then. However, since the 1990's more and more have been noted, which has changed their status to fairly common.