An Amazing Historical Discovery

Pithya vulgaris

Further to previous posts on the blog regarding the fungi found on recycled Christmas trees at Ogden Water we now have fairly conclusive evidence that the fungi are in fact Pithya vulgaris - a species considered extinct in Britain since 1888. It was first described in 1870 and recorded on just one occasion in Britain.The specimens from Ogden are now at Kew Gardens awaiting confirmation and we are expecting a reply some time today.

       

Ogden Water. 23.01.13

I had walk to check on Bruce's orange fungi, he located on the  05/01/2013, (please see Bruce's previous blog).  I did find Lachnellula subtilissima, before I discovered (which we now know) is Fir Disco (Pithya vulgaris).

 Lachnellula subtilissima

Fir Disco (Pithya vulgaris)

Dessicated Exidia glandulosa

Dessicated Exidia glandulosa Witches Butter found in Park Wood, Elland

Rehydrated in water

Park Wood, Elland 17.1.2013

We went to the White Jelly-ear site today. Despite a freezing day and snow lying in places, there were some fascinating things to see. The snow helps by reflecting light and making things easier to see.

A gall about 15cm - 6 inches high on Elder (Sambucus)

Cramp Balls or King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica

A crust fungus - Elder Whitewash  Hyphodontia sambuci 

It looks exactly as if applied by brush, except it can be found 

underneath loose bark.

Another crust - black as tar  - on oak

Possibly Common Tarcrust Diatrype stigma

A big mass of old, frozen Bay Polypore - Polyporus durus

found by Alison Galbraith on a fallen log of an unidentifiable deciduous tree.

Only identified after it thawed out at home. Short stems black at the base.

The pores much channeled by fly larvae. 

19cm wide (7.5inches) - the largest of these three caps.

Luddenden Dean 6.1.13

 Masses of  rather old Pale Oyster  Pleurotus pulmonarius on the hulk of an ancient, dead sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus.)

 Much of the tree has recently fallen. Jelly Ear Auricularia on its second most common wood in our area, after Elder Sambucus , though it grows on several other trees/ shrubs.

 Oyster, Jelly Ear and a crust, all together. Cant id the crust. (Centre.)

 There were several of these brackets. That's £1.10 to give scale. It's about 60cm (2ft.) across where it's attached ! White underside.

 Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica. Parasitic on the not yet fruiting mycelium of a crust fungus ( various Peniophora sp. )

 A lovely spot of colour to brighten a dull day - and wonderfully wobbly like Jelly Ear.

This crust could be the Peniophora the Yellow Brain is parasitising. I only had time for a quick look round this huge tree ruin, as I was walking with non-mycology friends and their dogs. I'll go back through the year.

Hardcastle Crags 11/01/2013

A frosty morning in the Crags!

, 

Conifercone Cap (Baeospora myosura), above and below

The ubiquitous Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor).

Frozen Black Bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans). 

A pretty cluster of Stags Horn or Candlesnuff Fungus ( Xylaria hypoxylon).

Ogden 5th Jan 2013

There were hundreds of these on the old Christmas trees around the path.

Immature Orange Peel  Aleuria aurantia ???

not sure...

Now known to be Pithya vulgaris. Many  thanks to all involved with the identification.

Are these Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes ?

Stags Horn, candlesnuff fungus   Xylaria hypoxlon 

Hardcastle Crags - 08/01/2013

Oliver was well enough to go back to school today, after 16 days of a rotten virus, so I went for a foray. I was raring to go after being cooped up like a chicken over Christmas and so pleased to be out in the fresh air, back in the Crags. I didn't find anything I hadn't seen before, but that didn't matter!

Crystal Brain (Myxarium nucleatum), revisited and it had grown considerably.

The black spheres looked like Caviar to me, however I would't fancy trying them!
I think they may be the decomposed remnants of the yellow slime mould, they were quite fascinating.

Further down the branch, it was just beginning to grow. There are three tiny projections at 12 o'clock.

Hairy Bracket (Trametes hirsuta).

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Scarlet Elfcups (Sarcoscypha austriaca). I haven't seen these in the Crags before

Purplepore Bracket (Trichaptum abietinum).