Taphrina pruni Taphrina pruni Taphrina pruni is a fungal plant pathogen of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) that causes the Pocket or bladder Plum gall, a chemically induced distortion of the fruit (sloes), producing swollen on one side, otherwise deformed and flattened fruit gall without a stone. The twigs on infected plants may also be deformed with small strap-shaped leaves. "T. pruni" produces a distinctive tongue-like growth, similar to other closely related species such as "Taphrina alni" on Alder ("Alnus glutinosa") and "Taphrina padi" on Bird Cherry "Prunus padus". The growth is the distorted fruit and not a fungus in its entirety. "T. pruni"
Prunus brigantina Prunus brigantina Prunus brigantina, called Briançon apricot, marmot plum, and alpine apricot, is a wild tree species native to France and Italy. It is the only apricot-like "Prunus" species native to Europe. The fruit is similar to the commercial apricot "Prunus armeniaca", and is edible. An edible oil produced from the seed, 'huile des marmottes', is used in France. Unlike the other closely related species known as apricots, the fruit is smooth rather than hairy. "Prunus brigantina" is considered a member of the apricot group, along with "P. armeniaca", "P. mandshurica", "P. mume", and "P. sibirica", but its genetic relationships