Taphrina alni
{{Short description|Species of fungus}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Alder tongue gall
| image = Alder tongue gall (Taphrina alni).jpg
| genus = Taphrina
| species = alni
| authority = (Berk. & Broome) Gjaerum, 1966
| synonyms =
Taphrina amentorum
Exoascus amentorum
Exoascus alni-incanae J.G.Kuhn
Ascomyces alni Berk. & Broome
Ascomyces alnitorquus (Tul.) anon. ined.
Exoascus alnitorquus (Tul.) Sadeb. 1884
Taphrina alni-incanae (J.G. Kühn) Magnus 1890
Taphrina alnitorqua Tul. 1866
}}
Taphrina alni is a fungal plant pathogen that causes alder tongue gall, a chemically induced distortion of female alder catkins (Alnus glutinosa).Ellis, Hewett A. (2001). Cecidology. Vol.16, No.1. p. 24.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/fungi-forums/46110-alder-tongue-fungus-correct-name-sought.html |title=Clarification of synonyms |access-date=2009-01-07 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113346/http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/fungi-forums/46110-alder-tongue-fungus-correct-name-sought.html |url-status=dead }}
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;{{clarify|reason=the statement appears to be contradicted by the second half of the sentence|date=August 2014}} 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.{{cite journal |last1=Rilstone |first1=F |editor1-last=Rendle |editor1-first=A B |editor1-link=Alfred Barton Rendle |title=Cornish Micro-Fungi |journal=Journal of Botany |date=1935 |volume=LXXIII |pages=98–104 |url=http://archive.bsbi.org.uk/Journal_of_Botany_1935.pdf |publisher=Taylor and Francis |location=London}}Redfern, Page 223{{Cite web |url=http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/species/alder.html |title=Tongue gall on alder |access-date=2009-01-07 |archive-date=2014-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301013742/http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/species/alder.html |url-status=dead }}Ellis, 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.{{cite book |last1=Chinery |first1=Michael |title=Britain's Plant Galls. A photographic guide |date=2011 |publisher=WildGuides |location=Old Basing, Hampshire |isbn=978-1903657-43-0 |page=32 |author1-link=Michael Chinery }}
Infestations of alder tongue galls
Removing and destroying the galls may help to reduce the infestation.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} While fairly large, and sometimes present in quite large numbers specimens, they cause no measurable harm.
Structure and appearance
{{multiple image
| align = left
| width = 200
| footer = Languets on Alder pseudocones
| footer_align = center
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Taphrina alni developing languet.JPG
| alt1 = A developing languet
| caption1 = Pseudocone with developing languet
| image2 = Young Taphrina alni.JPG
| alt2 = A mature languet
| caption2 = Pseudocone with mature languet
| background color = #BBDD99
}}
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).[http://www.plantengallen.com/dataengels/gall_fungi.htm Gall Fungi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410073235/http://www.plantengallen.com/dataengels/gall_fungi.htm |date=2009-04-10 }} 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.
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See also
References
;Notes
{{Reflist}}
;Sources
- Redfern, Margaret & Shirley, Peter (2002). British Plant Galls. Identification of galls on plants & fungi. AIDGAP. Shrewsbury : Field Studies Council. {{ISBN|1-85153-214-5}}.
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