Iris Rust - Puccinia iridis

Description

The rust fungus Puccinia iridis affects both surfaces of the leaves of various types of the primary host, Iris, producing brown uredinia and blackish telia.  These are not listed as gall-causers in Redfern & Shirley (2023)

The alternate host, producing white aecia and spermogonia, is either Valeriana (Valerian) or Urtica (nettle); it is not gall-causing on these hosts.

Identification difficulty

host

Recording advice

Photograph the rust on the host.  Ensure you have noted the host-plant species in your comments

Habitat

On Iris leaves, frequently recorded on Stinking iris (I foetidissima); also Yellow Flag-iris (I pseudoacorus) and Bearded Iris in gardens (I x germanica); may be present in VC55 on other species. 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Iris Rust
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pucciniales
Family:
Pucciniaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
17
First record:
30/06/2018 (Smith, Peter)
Last record:
14/01/2026 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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