Smut

Yes here is a picture of Smut.
This must be one of the most esoteric blips ever.
Smuts are species of fungi which are found inside living plants. In the photo they are the black blobs seen inside two of the seed pods of this seedhead from Bird's Eye Primrose. (Primula farinosa),

This smut had not been seen for 106 years when it was rediscovered in the north Pennines in 2006.

It was later discovered in the colony of plants which grow in the Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve about a mile from where we live.

The black smut invades some of the seedpods where it replaces the seeds. It is smart enough not to invade all the seed pods as in doing so it would destroy its hostplant.
Mrs. K. is monitoring the plants near here and sending in reports. This particulr variety of smut is specific to Birds Eye Primrose.
It is fascinating to hunt for something believed to be lost for over a century.

Scientific article about all this can be found in The Scientific American in September 2011.

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