Alder Tongue Gall - a photo on Flickriver

Alder Tongue Gall

            Alder Tongue Gall / taphrina alni. Straws Bridge, Derbyshire. 14/08/18.

'SUMMER ALIENS.'

By way of a change from winter birds, a few images of a curious gall I found last summer for the first time. 
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 an Alder catkin, creating tongue-like, contorted protuberances. The gall, called a 'languet', emerges from the outer scales and is green initially. As it ages, other colours develop until, in old age it becomes darkish brown. They remain on the tree for a full year. Its spores are dispersed in the wind.

Taken on: August 14, 2018

Tags:

alder tongue gall

taphrina alni

derbyshire

formed by fungal plant pathogen

discovered in 1940's

once very rare

fairly common since 1990's

exclusive to Alder trees

widespread

urban

rural

wet habitats

streams

ponds

riverbanks

lakes

gravel pits

parkland

chemically induced

distorts f. alder catkins

emerges from cone scales

contorted

upward curl = ovarian tissue

downward curl = bracteole

gall called a languet

quite hard

smooth with slight sheen

rounded edges

broadest at tip

intriguing, varied shapes

initially green

develop colour with age

variable colouring

yellow, orange, pink, red

brown when mature

spores dispersed by wind

seen all year round

summer

lakeside tree

close up detail

macro

bokeh « less

Sets appears in: • In Explore • Fungi

Groups appears in: • Urban Wildlife • British Fungi and Lichens more » • Mushrooms and Fungi • Wildlife Of Great Britain and Ireland. • Countryfile • Wildlife UK • Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Fungi UK • WILD BRITAIN. • Derbyshire Wildlife Trust • Wild life photography bokeh • in explore • 6,000 Views Unlimited 6000 • Plants, Lichen and Fungi UK • British Isles Flora and Fauna • Birds and nature of the uk • UK WILD MUSHROOMS, TOADSTOOLS AND FUNGI « less

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