Tuesday, 18 October 2011

Nail Galls

Nail galls on Small-Leaved Lime, Tilia cordata, caused by the gall mite Eriophyes lateannulatus. Farningham Wood, 2 October 2011.
Nail galls on Small-Leaved Lime, Tilia cordata, caused by the gall mite Eriophyes lateannulatus.
Farningham Wood, 2 October 2011.
Small-Leaved Limes are scarce in the UK. It is likely that the climate is not warm enough to allow them to seed successfully. But they are found in ancient woodlands, so were probably established there when the climate was warmer. They reproduce vegetatively, and young trees can often be found in the neighbourhood of older ones.

There are just two specimens in Farningham Wood, yet this is enough to support a species of nail gall mites that are unique to this species of tree. The nail galls on the more common lime tree, Tilia × europaea, are produced by a different mite and are noticeably larger at this time of year, as shown below!

Lime nail galls, caused by a mite, Eriophyes tiliae, on a lime tree in Cudham car park. 30 September 2011.
Lime nail galls, caused by a mite, Eriophyes tiliae, on a lime tree in Cudham car park.   30 September 2011.
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1 comment:

  1. teegee19 October 2011 at 03:10

    Ah, thank you. Das Lindenbaum. But also same as the N. American basswood. You make me look things up. Balsa seems to be a different species. But I never saw the like of those galls!

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