Juniper Jelly Rust

Monday Mushroom #76

Like other rust fungi, Gymnosporangium claviforme infects two hosts at different stages of its life cycle. It starts as an infection in juniper bushes, forming these bright orange, tentacular spore releasing growths in spring.

Gymnosporangium claviforme

These spores travel on the wind and infect hawthorn trees, causing the berries to come out in white, hairy lumps which again release spores, and those spores will then infect another juniper tree.