Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: pseudoflower

I love coming across Rust Fungus on mustard plants of the Arabis genus. This very small (macro shot) pseudoflower was growing on Silver Rockcress/Alpine Smelowskia at Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis, way south of Highway 40, on July 2nd. "Puccinia monoica is a rust fungus of the genus Puccinia that inhibits flowering in its host plants (those of the Arabis genus) and transforms host behavior in order to facilitate sexual reproduction to pass on its genes. Infection occurs when the fungus sends its throughout the stem of the mustard plant, siphoning off some of the nutrients of its host. However, to reproduce, Puccinia monoica must exchange genes with the Puccinia inside another mustard plant. The fungus sterilizes the plant, preventing it from sending up its own flowers. Instead, the fungus forces the infected plant to turn clusters of its leaves into brilliant "flowers" (pseudoflowers)." From Wikipedia. Something must be up with Flickr today - hardly any activity going on.

"Puccinia monoica is a rust fungus of the genus Puccinia that inhibits flowering in its host plants (those of the Arabis genus) and transforms host behavior in order to facilitate sexual reproduction to pass on its genes. Infection occurs when the fungus sends its throughout the stem of the mustard plant, siphoning off some of the nutrients of its host. However, to reproduce, Puccinia monoica must exchange genes with the Puccinia inside another mustard plant. The fungus sterilizes the plant, preventing it from sending up its own flowers. Instead, the fungus forces the infected plant to turn clusters of its leaves into brilliant "flowers" (pseudoflowers)." From Wikipedia. Photographed (macro) this infected Rock Cress (?) plant at 12-Mile Coulee, Calgary, on 1st May 2009. It's an interesting thing to see and quite attractive.

I took lots of shots of this bright yellow Rust Fungus that was growing on a tiny Rockcress plant at 12 Mile Coulee. Unfortunately, all it meant was that I now have a lot of photos to delete, as they didn't come out sharp. This one is usable and I can probably find one more, but that's it : ) However, thanks for finding this, Doug! I do hope you don't mind, but I'm using your description to go with my image, to make sure I get the right fungus and the right information! "Puccinia monoica 'Rust Fungus' infecting a Boechera sp. 'Rockcress'. When you first see this plant it looks like a pretty yellow flower especially at this time of year when there are very few flowers blooming yet. This plant has a rust fungus in the genus Puccinia. "Crucifers (Brassicaceae) in 11 genera are often infected by rust fungi in the Puccinia monoica complex. Infection causes a `pseudoflower' to form that is important for attracting insect visitors that sexually outcross the fungus. `Pollinator' attraction is accomplished through visual floral mimicry, the presence of a nectar reward and floral fragrances."