Pocket Plum by durleybeachbum

Photography • Flowers/Plants • posted on Jun 20, 2015

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Description

This deformed Blackthorn or Sloe fruit has been galled by the ascomycete fungus Taphrina pruni. They are often called Pocket Plums because the fungus destroys the developing stone and seed leaving a little pocket in each fruit. The galls are green at first, but become become grey or brown as the spore bearing asci develop on the outside. The spores infect the stems during the summer and the fungus grows there ready to invade the next year's fruits. Cultivated plums and other elated fruits , such as Mirabelles are also galled by this fungus. Thankyou to Linda (RiverCrouchWalker) for making me aware of the common name for these! Info from'Britain's Plant Galls' by Michael Chinery, another

Comments (18)

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0rest4wicked

12:23PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Nice comparison with all the immature fruit, and a very informative narration!

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jayfar

1:27PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Very interesting and I've not seen one before.

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PatGoltz

2:07PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Well composed. Thank you for the botany lesson! I'll know not to eat one of them.

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miwi

2:17PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Very interesting and I've not seen one before too;klasse info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jay-el-Jay

5:28PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Thanks for information.Nice shot.

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danapommet

7:51PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

Two very impressive photos Andrea - no sign of fruit on our plum tree yet - maybe it takes a few years to mature!

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wysiwig

8:29PM | Sat, 20 June 2015

I was going to mention how the fungus has some gall but maybe not. Some very interesting and potentially useful information. The green fruit looks remarkably like the oranges I saw in Thailand.

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