I do believe our botanical mystery has been solved! My fellow plant nerd who collected it with me had already bet her money on the solution, and she was absolutely right! We needed to have it verified though, and Glen Mittelhauser of the Maine Natural History Observatory answered my query promptly. Remember this unusual plant growth from a previous post?
It is caused by a fungus that generates abnormal growths (galls) in the tissue of shoots, leaves and flowers of the host plant, in this case Andromeda polifolia (Bog rosemary). It is known throughout north temperate regions - we found it in Washington county, Maine.
The pink leaves that look like flowers are the pathogenically infected leaves. Inaturalist states: fruitbody of Exobasidium karstenii causes gall of live, enlarged, reddened leaf of Andromeda polifolia.
Woo hoo! So very, very excited to have this confirmed and explained. The world makes sense again thanks to Glen!
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