Solitary chicken - need advice

[susanb]

I was just looking at one of my old roses and it has some bright red growths on one of the leaves looking like star-fish or anemones. They spike out on both sides of the leaf and look very peculiar (a bit like something out of Mario Galaxy on the Wii...if that helps!).

 

I have never seen anything like it and wonder if anyone else has any ideas if it is good or bad or poisonous etc.

 

thanks

[Redwing]

OK I am going to be brave and be the first to ask - are you sure they arent rosehips?

 

Many apologies if I am wrong

[sjp]

rose hips:-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hip

you'll have to copy and paste to have a look

[susanb]

thanks - but nope, not rose-hips.

 

smaller and spiky like coral or anemones or almost like spiky urchins. They go "through" the leaf - as much on the back as on the front. No "body" to them - just all the spikes coming out.

 

and a really pretty bright red/pink.

[Redwing]

Do they look like they should be there or do you think they might be some sort of fungus/pest etc..?

[susanb]

They should not be there. There is only one leaf on the plant that has them....it has 4. I think it is probably a fungus and so I plan to cut off the leaf and throw it away. But if it is a really bad fungus then I'd like to do the necessary so it does not spread to my other plants (even if that means digging up this one plant - a wild white rose).

 

My mother-in-law (who is visiting this week) thinks it looks very pretty and that I should keep it!

[Happy chickens!]

Sorry Susan I've no idea what the growth is, but I've found my roses doing much better this year since I've watered them with some beneficial funghi (as well as feeding etc) which improves the health of the roots.

[susanb]

ah-ha...my husband has helpfully found the answer.....

 

its a plant gall caused by a parastic wasp....they lay their eggs and then these growths are to provide shelter and food for the grubs. Sometimes known as "robins pincushion".

 

Having already had to deal with 2 wasps nests this summer - I think I will be squashing the leaf tomorrow!!

 

if you are interested: http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/galls%20p1.html#RobsPin

 

thanks, all

[keyhole kate]

Blimey weird but very pretty

[Lesley]

I think it sounds like Robins Pincushion - a form of gall.

 

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/galls%20p1.html

 

[Old Speckled Hen]

I think it sounds like Robins Pincushion - a form of gall.

 

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/galls%20p1.html

 

 

The hedgerows here are full of them, bright red.

I've just picked some to put in a vase. Very pretty.