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''Taphrina alni'' is a fungal
''Taphrina alni'' produces a distinctive tongue-like growth which derives mainly from the ovarian tissues of the alder catkin or from the bracteoles. These alder pseudocones may carry several tongue galls, each of which usually appear to come from the same position; those curling down usually come from the bracteoles tissues and those projecting upwards usually come from ovarian tissues.Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 28.
Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 30.
The gall is therefore very persistent and remains attached to the pseudocone throughout its existence, even remaining attached after storms have detached branches and pseudocones.
plant pathogen
Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...
that causes alder tongue gall, a chemically induced distortion of female alder catkins (''Alnus glutinosa
''Alnus glutinosa'', the common alder, black alder, European alder, European black alder, or just alder, is a species of tree in the family Betulaceae, native to most of Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa. It thrives in wet locations whe ...
'').Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 24.Clarification of synonyms''Taphrina alni'' produces a distinctive tongue-like growth which derives mainly from the ovarian tissues of the alder catkin or from the bracteoles. These alder pseudocones may carry several tongue galls, each of which usually appear to come from the same position; those curling down usually come from the bracteoles tissues and those projecting upwards usually come from ovarian tissues.Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 28.
Distribution
This gall was rare in the United Kingdom and is absent from many of the published gall keys, although common in Western Europe. It was recorded first in Cornwall first in the 1930s, and then in Northumberland, Ayrshire and Skye, mainly since the 1990s. It is becoming quite common throughout the United Kingdom.Redfern, Page 223Tongue gall on alderEllis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 30.
Life cycle
The gall develops on the maturing pseudocones and the spores produced are carried by the wind to other trees. At first the gall is pale cream and becomes red or purple later.Infestations of alder tongue galls
Removing and destroying the galls may help to reduce the infestation. While fairly large, and sometimes present in quite large numbers specimens, they cause no measurable harm.Structure and appearance
The gall, known as a 'languet',Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). ''Cecidology''. Vol.16, No.1. p. 27. develops and emerges from between the outer scales like a flat, elongated flag with a hard, smooth and slightly shiny surface lacking any hairs. The outer edges are rounded and the tip is broader than the foot of the 'flag'. Early in the season the flag is fresh and green, but the colours soon start to vary from pale green to yellow, pink, red, purple and orange. Later the galls turn brown or black and remain on the tree for a long time (until the next season).The gall is therefore very persistent and remains attached to the pseudocone throughout its existence, even remaining attached after storms have detached branches and pseudocones.
See also
*Gall
Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...
*Oak artichoke gall
Andricus foecundatrix (formerly ''Andricus fecundator'') is a parthenogenetic gall wasp which lays a single egg within a leaf bud, using its ovipositor, to produce a gall known as an oak artichoke gall, oak hop gall, larch-cone gall or hop strobi ...
*Pineapple gall
The Pineapple gall adelgid (''Adelges abietis'') is a type of conifer-feeding insect that forms pineapple-shaped plant galls on its host species, commonly Norway and Sitka spruce. The adelgids (genus ''Adelges'') are pear-shaped, soft-bodied g ...
*'' Taphrina padi''
*''Taphrina pruni
''Taphrina pruni'' is a fungal plant pathogen of blackthorn (''Prunus spinosa'') that causes the pocket or bladder plum gall, a chemically induced distortion of the fruit (sloes), producing swollen on one side, otherwise deformed and flattened fr ...
''
References
;Notes ;Sources # Redfern, Margaret & Shirley, Peter (2002). ''British Plant Galls. Identification of galls on plants & fungi''. AIDGAP. Shrewsbury : Field Studies Council. . {{Taxonbar, from=Q1948272 Taphrinomycetes Galls Fungi described in 1966