136
The Galls of Essex; a Contribution to a
nut or small walnut, and greatly resembles the fruit of the
hop (strobile), or a miniature artichoke. It mostly occurs in
the leaf-axils, and consists of a much compressed, woody
axis, to which the hairy, brownish green, elongate scales are
Fig.23. Aphilothrix gemmae.
attached; these enclose a hard, chocolate-brown, pear-shaped,
single-celled inner gall, which is about one-third of an inch
in length. The gall is mature in autumn, when the inner
gall falls to the ground; the gall-fly emerges therefrom in
spring, but occasionally from one- or two-year-old galls. It
is commonly found on oak-stubs or young trees. Aphilothrix
gemmae, Linne. (Fig. 23).
Quercus Robur, L. Bud. The
gall is a small, woody, spindle-
shaped growth in an axillar bud;
it is reddish brown in colour
and thickly covered with similarly
coloured pubescence ; at the apex
is frequently a small conical papilla,
and in some instances there is a

short, thick foot-stalk at the base.

Fig. 24.
Aphilothrix solitaria.
The gall is single-celled, and is
mature in autumn, when the gall-fly emerges therefrom.
Aphilothrix solitaria, Fonscolombe. (Fig. 24).
Quercus Robur, L. Bud. This gall is more conspicuous
than any other of the smaller autumnal bud-galls, on account