Clever, clever little phytopath

In my garden I have some Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius) and this is what the flowers normally look like:

Normal healthy salsify flower - its a relative of the daisy

and this is what the flower buds look like - this one - long and pointy

now what is happening here - the plant looks healthy but the buds are stunted

Oh, my word - what is going on here?

Those are fungal spores - very smooth and silky to the touch and preserving the purple flower colouring

This fungus - or fungus-like organism has very cleverly hi-jacked the reproductive system of its host and without causing any other visible damage or alteration has got its fruiting bodies a free lift about a metre off the ground - just right for wind-borne dispersion.

Reactions - neighbour at #23 "oohh, interesting!", neighbour at #25 "uggghh!"

#25 is a consultant surgeon - first thought was "Mycosis of the lung", which I suggested was unlikely because this appears to be a rather specialist plant pathogen - but research reveals...

"Sporotrichosis (also known as "Rose gardener's disease") is a disease caused by the infection of the fungus Sporothrix schenckii. This fungal disease usually affects the skin, although other rare forms can affect the lungs, joints, bones, and even the brain. Because roses can spread the disease, it is one of a few diseases referred to as rose-thorn or rose-gardeners' disease."

Sporothrix schenckii has a double life - either hyphal or yeast-like - and this second form can survive and grow at 37oC - oops.

It was my grandmother that got me interested in botany - long walks around the Hampshire countryside.