I do like a nice fungal gall, and the genus Taphrina includes some stunners. I was interested to see these fresh galls on a Prunus of some kind (not Prunus padus), in Thetford the other week: Taphrina pruni (there is a different, similar, species which occurs on P. padus: T. padi).
The fungus causes this deformed growth in the developing fruits.
Debbie Evans' article in Field Mycology (2016, vol. 17 issue 2) on 'An exceptional Taphrina year in North-west Wales' (here) is a nice introduction to some of the Taphrina species that can be found in Britain.
Taphrina alni is the only other species from this genus that I've encountered before.
Alder tongue gall, caused by the fungus Taphrina alni, looking proper flamboyant at Woods Mill today. pic.twitter.com/wNpff0w6hp— Clare Blencowe (@__clare__) July 9, 2018
Will be keeping an eye out for the other British species:
- Peach Leaf Curl Taphrina deformans
- Taphrina wiesneri
- Taphrina betulina
- Taphrina populina
- Taphrina tosquinetii
- Taphrina johansonii
- Taphrina carpini
For the record
Date: 10/05/2019
Location: Thetford
Grid reference: TL870827
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