Alexanders Rust - Puccinia smyrnii

Description

Puccinia smyrnii is a rust fungus that causes galls on Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum). Both surfaces of the leaves, and the stem may be thickened and blistered by spermogonia and aecia, followed by dark brown telia on the leaf underside.  There is no host alternation, and no uredinia are produced.

Identification difficulty
When to see it

Spring and summer.

UK Status

Most records come from the coasts of England and Wales, but as the host plant moves inland, sometimes along salted roads, the rust fungus may be expected to occur more widely as well.

VC55 Status

Infrequent or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Burbage Wood record of 25th March 2016 is believed to be the first confirmed record for VC55.  However the host plant, Alexanders is spreading in our area and Puccinia smyrnii may well turn up more frequently.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Alexanders Rust
Species group:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pucciniales
Family:
Pucciniaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
11
First record:
25/03/2016 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
01/05/2023 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records