Fooled and Schooled

Back at Long Point a couple weeks back my co-worker Andrew and I noticed strange looking plants in the backdune-marsh interphase along Hastings Drive.  I'd be lying if I said we didn't think we had something really cool at first glance; but as it turns out, it's just a deformed willow (I don't actually know what species).

Have you ever seen the movie Willow?  Before it's time.  Kind of weird though, just like willow galls.  

You see galls on all sorts of vascular plants, a common one being the pinecone willow gall.  In fact, the Salix genus is particularly susceptible to the formation of galls.  This willow stem from Big Creek Marsh shows a willow rosette gall which is formed by the aptly-named willow rosette gall midge (Rabdophaga salicisbrassicoides).  Actually, the name willow cabbage gall midge is also used and perhaps more appropriate given the species epithet.

The larvae will make use of these protective galls, overwintering in them, until a 5mm midge emerges in the spring to fly away, mate, and find another willow to lays eggs upon.  Chemicals released by the egg/larvae will then cause the willow to form galls.

The day after freezing rain last week made for an interesting horizon of Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia) all bent over and reflecting the sunlight.

Andrew likes Argos (when they don't fall apart in -25°C weather) THIS much.