Taphrina occidentalis W.W. Ray
alder tongues
Taphrinaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
alder tongues
Taphrinaceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
Species Information
Summary:
Features include twisted, long, tongue-like outgrowths on female alder catkins that are yellowish green becoming orange, red, or purplish, and dry brown. Taphrina occidentalis has been known under the name Taphrina alni which is a European species (that has been found in Alaska). The description is from Beug(3) except where noted. T. occidentalis is common.
Microscopic:
spores 2-6 x 1.5-4 microns, elliptic; asci 35-55 x 10-20 microns; basal cells 8-17 x 12-22 microns
Notes:
Distribution includes western North America. There is a collection by O. Ceska from BC under the name Taphrina alni at the University of British Columbia.
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
Taphrina robinsoniana Giesenh is the common alder tongue of eastern North America, although according to Rodrigues(1) there is DNA evidence to suggest that Taphrina robinsoniana may be a complex of species. T. robinsoniana has basal cells that are long than wide and has shorter, narrower asci (typically 8-spored), with spores "sometimes budding to form a polysporic condition", (Beug). Taphrina alni (Berkeley and Broome) Gjaerum = Taphrina amentorum (Sadebeck) Rostrup, is the most common European alder tongue and has been found on Alnus rubra in Alaska: it is distinguished by lacking stalk cells. It has numerous spores per ascus, asci measuring 34-81 x 9-18 microns. Many Taphrina species produce witches'' brooms including Taphrina epiphylla (Sadebeck) Sadebeck (asci 52 x 11-23 microns) on Alnus incana. (Beug). See also SIMILAR section of Taphrina populina.Habitat
occurs on female catkins of Alnus rubra (Red Alder) and several other Alnus species, fruiting in summer