2017
NT3955 : Creeping Thistles at Falahill Cottages
taken 7 years ago, 3 km from Heriot, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Creeping Thistles at Falahill Cottages
Creeping Thistles [Cirsium arvense], with the RH plant infected by Creeping Thistle Rust [Puccinia punctiformis]. These thistles are perennial and widespread. Some plants are infected by a rust fungus, with mycelium that overwinters in the roots. Infected plants are smaller, yellowish, and with more erect leaves, which allow them to be readily spotted amongst healthy plants. Later in the summer small brown ['rust'] pustules appear on the underside of the leaves; they have a sickly sweet smell, which attracts insects, which then disperse the spores.
This page has been
viewed about
48 times