Alder Tongue - Taphrina alni

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Alternative names
Taphrina amentorum
Description

Taphrina alni is a fungus that causes Alder Tongue galls on female Alder (Alnus) catkins. Green at first, the galls gradually turn red and can then persist all year.

Identification difficulty
UK Status

Once rare in the United Kingdom and confined to Cornwall, it has spread rapidly since 1999 (ref.: Redfern & Shirley, 2023)

  • Graham Calow
    Fosse Meadows, Sharnford
    07 September 2014
    gall on female Alder catkin
  • Graham Calow
    Broughton Astley, B581 Broughton Way
    03 June 2022
    gall on female Alder catkin
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Priors Close
    06 August 2015
  • Alan Semper
    Melton Country Park
    29 August 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
    05 September 2012
    on female Alder catkins
  • Hazel Graves
    Sandhills Lodge
    27 July 2021
  • David Gould
    Aylestone Meadows, Leicester.
    12 August 2018

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Alder Tongue
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Taphrinales
Family:
Taphrinaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
91
First record:
09/07/2011 (Woodward, Steve)
Last record:
21/07/2025 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Alan Semper
    Melton Country Park
    29 August 2014
  • Alan Semper
    Melton Country Park
    29 August 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common
    09 September 2014
    gall on female catkin
  • Graham Calow
    Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
    05 September 2012
  • Steve Woodward
    Swannymote Wood
    09 July 2011
  • Paul Ruddoch
    Priors Close
    06 August 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Brascote, Cadeby Quarry
    17 September 2021
  • Hazel Graves
    Queen Elizabeth Woods
    06 October 2021