Puccinia rust on Vinca. aka: Periwinkle Rust  Sunshine Hill area, Tuolumne County, California.

For information on Puccinia rust, see: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/vinca-spp-periwinkle-rust

from that website:

Cause The fungus Puccinia vincae has been found in all PNW states. An alternate host is not needed for this autoecious rust. The frequent occurrence of the rust on new leaves and other factors suggest that the rust may be systemic in the plant.

Symptoms Leaves turn chlorotic with inconspicuous leaf spots on the upper surface of the leaf. Lower leaf surfaces have dark uredinina where telia are also produced. Heavily infected leaves may curl upward and shoots typically do not flower. Poor winter survival once a bed of plants is infected in western Oregon.

Cultural control

• Remove and destroy infected plants or plant parts.
• Avoid overhead irrigation or apply such that plants are not wet for extended periods of time.

Chemical control

• Pageant at 12 to 18 oz/100 gal water. Group 7 + 11 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
• Phyton 27 at 1.3 to 2 oz/10 gal water. Group M1 fungicide. 48-hr reentry.
• Terraguard SC at 4 to 8 fl oz/100 gal water. Group 3 fungicide. 12-hr reentry.
• Zyban WSB at 24 oz/100 gal water. Not to be confused with the smoking cessation drug. Group 1 + M3 fungicide. 24-hr reentry.

Reference Hernández, J.R., Palm-Hernández, M.E. and Tidwell, T. 2002. First report of Puccinia vincae on Vinca spp. in California. Plant Disease 86:75-75.

Thanks to Farm Advisor Scott Oneto for the ID!

Photinia. Valley Springs, Ca.

Is it leaf spot?

Erik Brians found a fungal-type growth under some garden plants in Sonora. He brought a sample back.

I removed one of the tubes, and cut it open, as you can see in a series of images below. It was tough and fibrous.

I passed the photos along to Dr. David William Fischer, Mycologist, at American Mushrooms®. He believes it is a type of bird’s nest mushroom, but long dead. You can see photos of living specimens here. Thanks Dr. Fischer!

Calaveras County, Angels Camp, 15 March 2020.

Photos by Steve Deaver.

This branch was on the ground, under a dead poplar or cottonwood (??) tree. Sonora California, 2-11-2020. The fungus appears to have grown under old bark, which has mostly now fallen off.

This white mold was growing on the ground, under a house in Arnold California.

There were beetle larvae living under the fungal mat.

Heather Nordstrom took these photos of Chromosera cyanophylla, a beautiful and colorful mushroom.  6 June 2019, near Eagle Meadows (about 7500 feet elevation), Tuolumne County, Ca. Thanks to Jacob Pulk for the identification.

Some references:

Chromosera cyanophylla

Chromosera cyanophylla …. photo by Heather Nordstrom

Chromosera cyanophylla …. photo by Heather Nordstrom

Chromosera cyanophylla …. photo by Heather Nordstrom

This valley oak, in the Chinese Camp area, is showing signs of a possible canker rot infection. The bark is bursting in numerous locations on the main bole. Overall, the tree looks healthy, with new leaf growth, and fullness in foliage. The tree has extensive sapsucker holes. A small swimming pool was constructed nearby.

2 August 2018.  Thanks to Dr. Ted Swiecki of phytosphere.com for help with the ID.

Dr. Swiecki states “In canker rots, the decay column extends out to the cambium in some places, causing a localized canker that can callus over, especially if the tree is otherwise vigorous.  ”

Not fully sure, but we believe this is dog vomit slime mold, dripping from the eaves of this house. Photos by Jon Shattuck, September 2017.

Josh Esposito took these photos, and collected the samples, of what might appears to be white fungus on a beam.

The material with water, as a test.

The material with water, as a test.

side-on view

side view

A-one side

A-the other side