Creeping Thistle Rust - Puccinia punctiformis

Description

This rust causes galls on Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense), and the whole plant appears stunted.  There is no host alternation.  Sickly-smelling yellow spermogonia are followed by brown aecia covering the leaf underside; light brown uredinia and darker brown telia are present later.

Identification difficulty
Life History

It overwinters as mycelium in the root stock and can kill the thistle plant before flowering. It can be transmitted by insects.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Thistle Rust
Species group:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pucciniales
Family:
Pucciniaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
40
First record:
06/06/2011 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
23/10/2023 (lemmon, roy)

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