Rusts on Alexanders

[alindsay]

I have spotted the very easily identifiable Puccinia smyrnii on Alexanders in several varied locations and in May, as it got older, it looked like the third photo.

Then I then saw another rust on the same day, in the same crop of plants which had different characteristics, see other two photos. I read in Henderson's paper, that there is another fungus on Alexanders called Puccinia ljulinlca, but I cannot find any images on the internet to compare.

Are the latter 2 photos just another stage of Puccinia smyrnii or might it be the other rust?

Thanks in advance.

Alison

[Chris Yeates]

Hi Alison
yes - two stages of the same rust fungus: the orange cluster-cup aecial stage (often effectively galling the leaves), and the chocolatey telial stage. The two stages often occur together - even in mild winters as here (the teliospores are splendidly ornamented):

Puccinia ljulinica is restricted to Smyrnium perfoliatum - I think I saw it on that host in Greece years ago; UK records here:
http://www.fieldmycology.net/FRDBI/FRDB ... +ljulinica .

Chris

[alindsay]

Thanks Chris

Informative as ever with extras. Much appreciated.

Your records are immaculate. Are they stored somewhere for posterity?

Regards A