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What is a gall?
A gall is an
abnormal growth on plants and trees formed in response to the
invasion of other life forms such as insect larvae, mites, or fungi.
Galls on South African Searsia species (Anacardiaceae)
comprise a great diversity of shapes, colours and sizes. Galls can
be formed on leaves, leaf petioles, flower cluster petioles, or on
older woody stems. Many of these galls are formed by a primitive
moth, whose caterpillars eventually form “jumping beans”. Some of
these moth galls are modified by a Gall wasp, Rhoophilus loewi
(Cynipidae).
Photographs © Simon van
Noort |
