Leaf galls on common alder
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Leaf galls on common alder by Lairich Rig as part of the Geograph project.
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Leaf galls on common alder
Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 10 Sep 2008
(The galls in my photograph are past their best. Compare another example, photographed in a different year, but earlier in the season, which shows more attractive colours: Image) Two kinds of leaf gall were present in abundance on the native (or common) alder trees (Alnus glutinosa) in this area; both kinds could often be found on the same tree. The growths shown in this photo are caused by the gall mite Eriophyes laevis, and they are scattered over the upper surface of the leaf; on the underside, there are only small inconspicuous openings. Many leaves were much more densely galled than this, sometimes to the extent that the leaves became quite distorted. The other variety of gall that was present on these trees is shown here: Image
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Image Location
Latitude
55.964404
Longitude
-4.577711