Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli Liro
(a seed smut fungus)

Interactions where Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli is the dominant partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Stage Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season
sorus (immersed) immersed sorus infects and damages seeds (in capsule) UK/Ireland Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusimmersedsorus Foodplant / pathogenUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia sepium/Calystegia sepiumhedge bindweedseeds (in capsule) (8-10)
Thecaphorella anamorph Thecaphorella anamorph causes gall of swollen, stunted, sub-sessile anther UK/Ireland Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
Bioimages - the Virtual Field Guide, Storey, M.W., 2015
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusThecaphorella anamorph Foodplant / gallUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia sepium/Calystegia sepiumhedge bindweedswollen, stunted, sub-sessileanther (6-10)
sorus (immersed) immersed sorus infects and damages seeds (in capsule) UK/Ireland Calystegia silvatica Large Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusimmersedsorus Foodplant / pathogenUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia silvatica/Calystegia silvaticalarge bindweedseeds (in capsule) (8-10)
Thecaphorella anamorph Thecaphorella anamorph causes gall of swollen, stunted, sub-sessile anther UK/Ireland Calystegia silvatica Large Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
Bioimages - the Virtual Field Guide, Storey, M.W., 2015
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusThecaphorella anamorph Foodplant / gallUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia silvatica/Calystegia silvaticalarge bindweedswollen, stunted, sub-sessileanther (6-10)
sorus (immersed) immersed sorus infects and damages seeds (in capsule) UK/Ireland Calystegia soldanella Sea Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusimmersedsorus Foodplant / pathogenUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia soldanella/Calystegia soldanellasea bindweedseeds (in capsule) (8-10)
Thecaphorella anamorph Thecaphorella anamorph causes gall of swollen, stunted, sub-sessile anther UK/Ireland Calystegia soldanella Sea Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
Bioimages - the Virtual Field Guide, Storey, M.W., 2015
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusThecaphorella anamorph Foodplant / gallUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Calystegia soldanella/Calystegia soldanellasea bindweedswollen, stunted, sub-sessileanther (6-10)
sorus (immersed) immersed sorus infects and damages seeds (in capsule) UK/Ireland Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusimmersedsorus Foodplant / pathogenUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Convolvulus arvensis/Convolvulus arvensisfield bindweedseeds (in capsule) (8-10)
Thecaphorella anamorph Thecaphorella anamorph causes gall of swollen, stunted, sub-sessile anther UK/Ireland Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed Solanales: Convolvulaceae Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud., Ellis, E.A., 1962
Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
Ustilaginales of the British Isles, Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984
Bioimages - the Virtual Field Guide, Storey, M.W., 2015
/Fungi/Basidiomycota/Ustilaginomycetes/Urocystidales/Glomosporiaceae/Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli/Thecaphora seminis-convolvulia seed smut fungusThecaphorella anamorph Foodplant / gallUK and/or Eire /Plantae/Tracheophyta/Magnoliopsida/Solanales/Convolvulaceae/Convolvulus arvensis/Convolvulus arvensisfield bindweedswollen, stunted, sub-sessileanther (6-10)

Author & YearTitleSource
Ellis, E.A., 1962Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud.Kew Bulletin 16: 251-252.
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook2nd (New Enlarged) edition, 868pp, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota517pp, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Mordue, J.E.M. & Ainsworth G.C., 1984Ustilaginales of the British IslesMycological Papers, No 154, 96pp, Commonwealth Mycological Institute
Storey, M.W., 2015Bioimages - the Virtual Field Guidewww.bioimages.org.uk

Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus) may be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesThecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus)
GenusThecaphora (a genus of seed smut fungi)
FamilyGLOMOSPORIACEAE (a family of seed smut fungi)
OrderUROCYSTIDALES (an order of fungi)
ClassUSTILAGINOMYCETES (smut fungi and relatives)
SubphylumUSTILAGINOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus)

Identification Works

Handling & MagnificationAuthorYearTitleSource
Ellis, E.A. 1962 Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (Desm.) S. Ito and Gloeosporium antherarum Oud. Kew Bulletin 16: 251-252.

Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may be relevant to Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 34 images of Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli (a seed smut fungus)

This smut may be found either by searching for flowers with swollen anthers, or by bursting the ripe capsules with your fingers, from late August onwards and looking for dark dusty spores. Beware that the large ripe seeds are black and when half-ripe they can look as though they are covered in dust, but a true infection will produce copious spore dust from large lesions on the seeds.

Infected host flowers stay open into the evening after uninfected flowers have closed for the night.

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