Shared description
Plant galls
Galls are abnormal growths, swellings, pustules or discolourations produced by a plant or other host under the influence of another organism, involving the enlargement and/or proliferation of host cells and the provision of both shelter and food or nutrients for the invading organism. Galls provide a home for the larvae or grubs of certain invertebrates, where they can feed and develop, and each type of gall-producer or causer is specific to a particular kind of plant. Galls come in many shapes including spheres, knobs, lumps, warts or blisters, each being characteristic of the causal organism, and can have a range of colours. Galls can be found on the stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds and roots of plants. Although many varieties of plants can be affected, oaks and willows are particularly rich in galls. Oaks are said to be host to more than 500 different types of galls. Weather, plant susceptibility, and pest populations affect the occurrence of plant galls.
Certain galls are documented to have been used in the production of ink since at least the time of the Roman Empire, and iron gall ink was the main medium used for writing in the Western World from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. Oak marble galls > Link for instance, were introduced in the early 19th century in an attempt to grow our own supply of galls for making ink. In Chinese medicine, oak galls are used as a remedy called moshizi, which is used for treating dysentery, ulcers and hemorrhoids among other things. Native Americans used poultices of ground gall nuts on sores, cuts and burns. The high content of tannic acid also makes oak galls a good source for tanning and dyeing.
Galls cause little permanent injury and rarely kill the infested plant.
For more detailed information go to the British Plant Gall Society's website at Link
Certain galls are documented to have been used in the production of ink since at least the time of the Roman Empire, and iron gall ink was the main medium used for writing in the Western World from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. Oak marble galls > Link for instance, were introduced in the early 19th century in an attempt to grow our own supply of galls for making ink. In Chinese medicine, oak galls are used as a remedy called moshizi, which is used for treating dysentery, ulcers and hemorrhoids among other things. Native Americans used poultices of ground gall nuts on sores, cuts and burns. The high content of tannic acid also makes oak galls a good source for tanning and dyeing.
Galls cause little permanent injury and rarely kill the infested plant.
For more detailed information go to the British Plant Gall Society's website at Link
by Evelyn Simak
Created: Sat, 26 Aug 2017, Updated: Mon, 11 Jun 2018
286 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
... and 261 more images.
Shared descriptions
This shared description
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is © copyright 2017 Evelyn Simak.
Shared descriptions are specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse them on their own images, without restriction.
About shared descriptions
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images.
For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Explore images
View images using this "Plant galls" Shared Description
View images mentioning the words [Plant galls] anywhere in text
Other shared descriptions
Related descriptions
- Chedworth Roman Villa
By Stephen McKay. Used on 10 images
- Vindolanda Roman Fort
By Andrew Curtis. Used on 28 images
- Cecidology - the study of Galls
By Phil Brandon Hunter. Used on 50 images
- Housesteads Roman Fort (Vercovium)
By David Dixon. Used on 31 images
- British Red Cross
By N Chadwick. Used on 26 images
- Arlington
By Simon Carey. Used on 343 images
- Turkey oak (Quercus cerris)
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 3 images
The above selections are automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions
