Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall

The inducer of this gall is unknown or undescribed.
Family: Cecidomyiidae | Genus: Polystepha
Detachable: integral
Color: brown, tan
Texture: hairless
Abundance:
Shape: globular
Season: Fall
Related:
Alignment: erect, integral
Walls: thin
Location: lower leaf, on leaf veins, at leaf vein angles
Form:
Cells: monothalamous
Possible Range:i
Common Name(s):
Synonymy:
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image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall
image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall
image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall
image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall
image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall
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image of Polystepha q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall

Gallformers ID Notes

Polystepha galls on the lower leaf vein angles of Quercus shumardii, overtaking the domatia, though hairs are often visible around the base of the gall. They have a typical Polystepha texture on the bottom, with a fissured and segmented hairless brown-tan surface. They are subglobular and often confluent with neighboring galls, creating irregularly round shapes. On the upper side of the leaf, a flat and shiny scar appears. Old galls observed in Texas in December.

A gall observed on Quercus rubra in Texas is similar but not limited to vein angles. This may or may not be the same species.

A similar gall observed on Quercus marilandica in Texas had more distinct faceting. This may or may not be the same species.

A similar gall has been observed on the upper side of Quercus nigra vein angles. Polystepha podagrae is known to make slightly smaller galls on veins and angles of Quercus ilicifolia and velutina.

- Gallformers Contributors: (2023) Gallformers ID Notes©


Further Information:
Pending...

See Also:
Unless noted otherwise in the ID Notes, observations of this gall are collected in the Observation Field Gallformers Code with value q-shumardii-vein-angle-gall on iNaturalist. You can view them here:
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