I found 10 or more different clumps of orange jelly like "tentacles" on an evergreen as shown in the attached file. They are growing on what appears to be an otherwise healthy tree. They are on the green branches, not growing on any dead wood. I've searched around on the web but I haven't found images of anything resembling what I'm seeing. I was wondering if any of the experts here might know what they are? They look more like multi-tentacled orange squid then anything else!
This is actually a rust, and you can find a small gall that it 'sprouts' from. It is Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginiana, assuming they are on a juniper tree? Check out Tom Volk's page on it, most reliable fungi site on the net. http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may99.html Do you live around any apple trees? chances are they are taking a major hit. And your juniper tree(s) might be toast too.
Thanks! That certainly what I'm seeing. The tree could well be a juniper. I have no apple trees and as far as I know none of my immediate neighbors do either, but I suppose there could be one around somewhere in the area. Would removing these "rust" balls help the tree? There are maybe 10 of them on it and it wouldn't be too hard to prune them off.
Prune them off - it might not help but it sure couldn't hurt! report back next year and tell us if they grew back!
It doesn't do serious damage to the juniper, but can be severe on its alternate apple host. Pruning them out might help reduce infection on nearby apples.
