Daisy Rust - Puccinia distincta

Puccinia distincta is a rust fungus causing galls on Daisies (Bellis perennis, including cultivated varieties); there is no host alternation. Infected leaves and stems have raised yellowed  spots bearing orange aecia; they are often less vigorous compared to normal leaves.  Dark brown telia are produced later; there is no spermogonia or uredinia stage. 

There is some disagreement amongst taxonomists as to whether this is a separate species from Puccinia lagenophorae, some think it is, others think not. We are treating these two species as separate for now but as the NBN treats them as synonyms we cannot display a separate distribution map below.

This species was only reported in Britain at the end of the 1990s but is becoming more common.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.