Hollyhock with rust

This hollyhock plant (Alcea rosea) is still green in December.

Link to Alcea rosea:


These hollyhock leaves have a dazzling display of hollyhock rust. Those are the orange spots on the leaves. Hollyhocks typically get rust on them but these are particularly beautiful. Who needs flowers when you get gorgeous rust like this?

The above two pictures were taken December 1, 2009.

Here is a closer look at one of the rusted hollyhock leaves seen above. Rust doesn't seem to hurt the plant any.

Here is an even closer look at the hollyhock rust teliospores on the leaf. They are the rust species Puccinia malvacearum. They will only grow when they land on another hollyhock leaf or a plant closely related to hollyhock.

Last two pictures were taken December 2, 2009.

Link to teliospores:

Link to Puccinia malvacearum: