Dichotomous table for gallers on Anchusa
(for Anchusa arvensis [= Lycopsis arvensis], see Lycopsis)
by Hans Roskam
1a On flowers or inflorescences => 4
1b On stems and leaves => 2
2a Malformations in rosette or on base of young stem => 3
2b Leaf blade with conspicuous, rotund, yellowish to brown pads or distinctly arched, oblong-oval bulges, arched on underside, upper side ± depressed also on midribs or stalks of leaves as well as on young axial parts; soon bearing aecia and spermogonia. A. azurea, calcarea, capensis, leptophylla, ochroleuca, officinalis, undulata: Puccinia recondita
3a Rosettes additionally branched. All parts greatly shortened, swollen, transformed into a ± compact gall. A. caespitosa: Aphelenchoides fragariae and/or Rhodococcus fascians
3b Young stem parts ± severely stunted, sometimes slightly swollen at base. Containing a yellowish-white caterpillar; head and neck black. Anchusa spp.: Cynaeda dentalis
3c More frequent on Anchusa in inflated leaf mines, later on occasionally also in ± crippled, sometimes gall-like disfigured stems occurs the caterpillar of the very close Epascestria pustulalis
4a Malformations on flowers, without distinct involvement of inflorescence rachis => 6
4b Young inflorescences with shortened axial parts; bracts and flower primordia ± strongly clustered => 5
5a Flowers ± distorted, bracts curled, deflected. A. officinalis: Dictyla echii
5b In sometimes similar malformations on inflorescence with stunted axis, clustered, ± disfigured flowers, curled and curved bracts or also on similarly disfigured vegetative shoots. Anchusa spp.: Philaenus spumarius
5c Flowers distorted, corolla ± greened or leafy; bracts and calyx lobes rolled inwards. A. officinalis: Anthocoptes aspidophorus
6a Flower buds swollen, unopened. Containing many mites. A. officinalis: Unidentified gall mite
6b Similar malformation caused by gall midges. A. officinalis: Unidentified gall midge