Anthracoidea limosa
A smut fungus on the ovaries of Carex limosa, visible as black masses in often-stunted inflorescences. Possibly more visible in older inflorescences.
Sori in ovaries, scattered in inforescences, forming subglobose, black hard bodies, 2-3 mm in diam., powdery on the surface. Spores large, flattened, in side view 13-17 µm wide, in plane view subcircular, broadly elliptic or subangular, 15-30 x (19-)20-33(-35) µm, dark reddish brown; walls even, 1-2.5 µm thick, no internal swellings, no light-refractive spots, surface verrucose, warts 0.1-0.6 µm high forming short rows or small groups, in SEM with moderately dense, fine to coarse, rounded, sometimes confluent warts, the surface between them finely, densely verruculose, appearing rough. Rather variable in spore size and ornamentation.
Description adapted from Vánky, K. (2012). Smut fungi of the world. St. Paul, Minnesota: APS press.
Not formally assessed. Only known in GB from two localities in Scotland, one with several sites.
None known on this host.
Anthracoidea limosa is a specific biotrophic parasite and pathogen of Carex limosa in Great Britain, infecting host plant ovaries. The smut has also been reported to infect other members of Carex subgen. Carex, sect. Limosae elswhere, including C. fuscocuprea, C. magellanica, C. pluriflora, C. rariflora, and hybrids, in Europe, North East Asia and North America.
Only known from two localities, both in Scotland: Altnaharra (by the River Naver), in West Sutherland VC108; and three sites near Rannoch in Mid Perthshire VC88 and Argyllshire VC98. Only one population (near Rannoch station) has been confirmed extant in recent years.