Brown spots caused by Guignardia leaf blotch blight fine horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) trees by the River Thames at Hampton Court historic royal palace at Richmond upon Thames, London, England. The blotch is a non-fatal infection widespread in southern England. The fungus Guignardia aesculi attacks horse chestnut trees from spring onwards, with the blotches most obvious in late summer. There is no effective treatment, but leaf damage is mostly cosmetic and trees seem to suffer no long-term damage.
Richmond upon Thames, London, United Kingdom: large brown spots caused by the fungal infection Guignardia leaf blotch blight the fine horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) trees in the grounds of Hampton Court, an historic royal palace founded in 1515 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and later given by him to his sovereign, the Tudor monarch King Henry VIII. Guignardia leaf blotch is a non-fatal infection widespread in the southern half of England, but less common further north. There is no effective treatment. The fungus Guignardia aesculi attacks horse chestnut trees from spring onwards, but the blotches are most obvious in late summer. This image was captured in September, before the leaves at Hampton Court would have naturally browned from the edges and dropped. Although the leaf damage is unsightly, it is mostly cosmetic, and trees appear to suffer no long-term damage. Clearing away fallen leaves may help reduce future attacks, as the disease probably overwinters on them.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Hampton Court, Richmond upon Thames, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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