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''Gymnosporangium clavariiforme'' (Tongues of Fire) is a species of
''Gymnosporangium clavariiforme'' (Tongues of Fire) is a species of rust
Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH ...
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...
which alternately infects Juniper
Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Juniperus'' () of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arcti ...
us and hawthorns.
In junipers, the primary hosts, ''G. clavariiforme'' produces a set of orange tentacle-like spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...
tubes called telial horns
Telium, plural telia, are structures produced by rust fungi as part of the reproductive cycle. They are typically yellow or orange drying to brown or black and are exclusively a mechanism for the release of teliospores which are released by wind o ...
. These horns expand and have a jelly like consistency when wet.SORTING OUT GYMNOSPORANGIUM SPECIES - The aecial stage, Field Mycology Volume 7(4), October 2006, Brand, Brand and Shattock. The spores are released and travel on the wind until they infect a hawthorn tree.
On the secondary hosts, the fungus produces yellowish depressions on the leaves. It also infects the fruit, which grows whitish tubes like a Medusa
In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those ...
head. These are the spore tubes. The spores must then infect a juniper to complete the life cycle.
The fungus does not cause serious damage to junipers, but hawthorns can suffer serious loss of haw production due to the effects of the fungus.
References
Further reading
* Phillips, D. H., & Burdekin, D. A. (1992). ''Diseases of Forest and Ornamental Trees''. Macmillan. * Scharpf, R. F., ed. (1993). ''Diseases of Pacific Coast Conifers''. USDA Forest Service Agricultural Handbook 521.External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5625086 Pucciniales Fungi described in 1786 Galls