Biodiversity in the North West: The Rusts and Smuts of Chesire, Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man

The historical counties of Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumberland and the Isle of Man have a rich diversity of geology, landscape, vegetation and wildlife.

This is an account of an important group of fungi, the rusts and smuts, which are parasites of plants.

In the past many host species were seriously affected, including wheat, barley, maize, tea and coffee, with major economic impact.