rust on monocot

[corzon]

Dear forum,

I found this rust during a hike at Tenerife. I think the host is a monocot, Asphodelus or something similar. Is there any chance of getting nearer to an ID than just 'rust spec.'?

Thanks for you input!

Kind regards
Cor Zonneveld
Natural History Photographs,
www.corzonneveld.nl

[Chris Yeates]

You really do need to know the actual identity of the host with rust fungi. Your fungus does look similar to the aecial stage of Puccinia asphodeli, which I have seen in Greece - c.f. http://www.biodiversidadvirtual.org/hon ... 24535.html but that is a long way from an ID; even if it were Asphodelus there are other rusts to consider. Unless you know the host, and probably some microscopy required on top of that, it's a "rust on a monocot" - rather like your post's title!
regards
Chris

[corzon]

OK, thanks. Rust on monocot it is!

[adampembs]

I generally encourage ID posts to go in the Fungi ID forum. This is mainly because of the edibility discussion ban that applies specifically to that forum, but also because many people have no idea if a fungus is a rust, an asco, or something else. However, people like Chris are more interested in rusts or ascos, so perhaps would pay more attention to those sub-forums. What do people think?