Gall
/gawl/🦠 Diseases● Basic
Also known as: plant gall, tumor
Galls are abnormal localized growths of plant tissue stimulated by organisms including insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, or bacteria. The causal agent manipulates the plant's growth hormones to create a shelter and food source. While galls can appear alarming, most are cosmetic and do not seriously harm the host plant. Common examples include oak apple galls, crown gall (Agrobacterium), and cedar-apple rust galls.
Etymology
From Latin galla (oak apple, excrescence)
Example
“The round, spongy galls on the oak leaves were caused by tiny cynipid wasps and were entirely harmless to the tree.”