A Big Yin

and a 'Wee One' is my first 'extra'

If you are wondering what they are, they are abnormal growths caused by a small wasp (Diplolepis rosae) laying eggs in the early bud of this briar.

Sometimes, the whole bud develops into a large fibrous mass and sometimes just small growths appear on leaves.

The growths are known as 'Robin's Pincushion Galls' and are most often found on dog roses (Rosa canina). They are also called moss galls and you can see why in the large one particularly as they start off green before turning red.


My other 'extra' is a surprise visitor this evening (6:30 pm) photographed from my bathroom window. It is a bottlenose dolphin swimming up the Forth.