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Tag Archives: rust on plants

Rusty bluebells

25 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by sconzani in fungi, plants

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Bluebell, Bluebell rust, British rusts, rust on Bluebells, rust on plants, Uromyces muscari

It will be some weeks yet before we see the first Bluebell flowers but I found my first examples of Bluebell rust (Uromyces muscari) during today’s walk. One to look out for….

220225 bluebell rust

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Nettle rust

04 Friday Jun 2021

Posted by sconzani in fungi, plants

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Nettle rust, Puccinia urticata, rust, rust fungi, rust on plants, Stinging nettle

It’s Fungi Friday and, though this time of year is not what I usually think of as prime fungi time, fungi are always with us, around us, underneath our feet, in the air we breathe, and I did find some prime examples earlier this week.

210604 nettle rust (1)

The vibrant yellow-orange-red patches on these Stinging nettles are Nettle rust (Puccinia urticata), and there were a lot of them.

210604 nettle rust (2)

As you can imagine, they were not easy to photograph, particularly as the plants were swaying slightly in the gentle breeze.

210604 nettle rust (3)

Fortunately, I spotted a patch of Dock nearby and used a leaf of that to shield my fingers while I held the plants steady.

210604 nettle rust (4)

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Bluebell rust

05 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by sconzani in nature

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Bluebell rust, Bluebells, rust fungi, rust on Bluebells, rust on plants, Uromyces muscari

Now that the lush leaves of Bluebells are poking their fleshy heads above the soil, it’s time to check for Bluebell rust (Uromyces muscari), which can be found on native, cultivated and hybrid Bluebells.

210205 bluebell rust (2)

I’ve been looking during my recent local exercise walks but have found most of the locals are rust-less, except in one location, which is where I found these examples.

210205 bluebell rust (3)

This rust won’t affect the flowers, of course, and, as far as I’m aware, it doesn’t affect the health of the plant. In fact, most people won’t even notice it’s there but now you know about it, you might.

210205 bluebell rust (1)

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Winter rusts

15 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by sconzani in fungi, plants

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British fungi, Melampsora euphorbiae, Puccinia lagenophorae, Puccinia smyrnii, rust, rust fungi, rust on Alexanders, rust on Groundsel, rust on Petty spurge, rust on plants

It may be the middle of winter – and chilly with it – but rust fungi can still be found, thriving on those plants that survive these cold temperatures. I’ve found these three in the past week, and I’m sure there must be more around. The good thing about rust fungi is that they generally only infect one species of plant so they’re easier than most fungi to identify – and that’s got to be good thing!

210115 Melampsora euphorbiae

Melampsora euphorbiae on Petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus)

210115 Puccinia lagenophorae

Puccinia lagenophorae on Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris)

210115 Puccinia smyrnii

Puccinia smyrnii on Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

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Rusts: resplendent yet ruthless

31 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by sconzani in nature

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Puccinia acetosae, Puccinia circaeae, Puccinia coronata, Puccinia magnusiana, Puccinia phragmitis, Puccinia poarum, Puccinia sessilis, Puccinia species, rust, rust fungus, rust on plants

If you think rust only happens to metal, think again. These are rusts – actually fungi – that cause diseases in plants; anything from trees and shrubs in the local park to the fruit and vegetables you lovingly tend in your home garden can be affected by rusts, sometimes fatally. There are around 7000 species of rust but they are more readily identifiable than you might think as many are specific to particular plants – often it’s a case of name the plant, name the rust.

170131-puccinia-acetosae-on-dock

Rusts are most visible when they form disfiguring spots on the upper surfaces of leaves, and pustules on their undersides, as well as on the stalks and sometimes the flowers and fruit of plants. Just like most other fungi, rusts produce spores, in this case in their millions from within the pustules. Though they are the bane of most gardeners, rusts can be interesting and attractive fungi to examine and study. The photos shown here are: Puccinia acetosae on Dock (Rumex sp.) (above), Puccinia circaeae on Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea lutetiana), Puccinia coronata on Creeping soft-grass (Holcus mollis), Puccinia magnusiana on Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), Puccinia phragmitis on Dock (Rumex sp.), Puccinia poarum on Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), and Puccinia sessilis on Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum).

170131-puccinia-circeae-on-enchanters-nightshade
170131-puccinia-coronata-on-holcus-mollis
170131-puccinia-magnusiana-on-buttercup
170131-puccinia-phragmitis-on-dock
170131-puccinia-poarum-on-coltsfoot
170131-puccinia-sessilis-on-arum

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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