Later in the year dark brown to black areas develop around and among orange "summer spore" masses on daylily leaves
"Winter spores" are produced in darkening areas and remain on dead daylily leaves over winter
The following spring these "winter spores" germinate and produce another type of spore that cannot infect daylilies
Instead, the new spores infect the "alternate host", Patrinia
Once Patrinia is infected, cross-fertilization of the fungus can take place
Fertilization results in spores which can infect daylily but not Patrinia
Daylily becomes infected by spores formed on Patrinia and the summer asexual cycle resumes (see animation of asexual cycle)

In climates which are sufficiently mild, the asexual cycle can continue through the winter on daylilies and the sexual stage on Patrinia is not required for survival of the disease from year to year.  Completion of the sexual cycle results in genetic recombination, increasing the possibility that daylily rust will overcome rust resistance in some daylily cultivars.  For a detailed description of the full life cycle including the sexual stage shown above, click here.  For a more detailed explanation of the asexual cycle only, click here.