Cragg Vale 26-05-13

Whilst Oliver and I were at Cragg Vale park, we popped into the wood, adjacent to the park and found there were lots of Ilex aquifolium trees, some with dead branches. I took one of the dead branches home to examine further, as it had a white crust and it was covered in a black sooty substance, which I now believe to be honeydew. I rehydrated the branch in water and discovered, by coincidence it was also covered in Crystal Brain (Myxarium nucleatum).

Honeydew on the bark above, viewed microscopically below.

The white crust fungi, I haven't been able to identify, as yet.

Rehydrated Crystal Brain (Myxarium nucleatum), above and below. If you look closely you can see the Calcium oxalate inside.

I cut into a section, to show the granules inside.

Dessicated Myxarium nucleatum, above and below. The granules are now clearly visible on the bark.

Under the microscope you can see the basidia look like jellyfish.

I squashed one of the granules as best I could, and viewed it under the microscope.

Cragg Vale 26-05-13 Synchytrium taraxaci

The fungus is a pathogen of dandelions and causes the leaves and flowers to distort and can cause rapid die-back of the plant concerned. It is common and widespread across the UK.

The fungus had dramatically distorted the leaf, causing it to curl over. 

Here you can see the orange, blister like sori, on the underside of the leaf, that contains the sporangia.

View of the upperside of the leaf.

The round angular sporangia release zoospores at maturity, viewed microscopically at home.

North Dean Wood 23-05-13

I found these Hymenoscyphus caudatus.agg, on a on a Sycamore (Acer pseudoplantus) fruit, in the leaf litter.

Saville Park 23-05-13 Coprinus atramentarius

Michael found these Inkcaps today, by a pavement at Savile Park, at the base of a wall.

Common Inkcap (Coprinus atramentarius).

North Dean Wood 23-05-13 Cudoniella clavus

I just had a quick walk through the wood, and found some more Spring Pin fungus, that I seen previously at the Crags, and with Michael yesterday, and finally managed to identify them. 

Spring Pin (Cudoniella clavus) on beech, above and below.

Wolf's Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum).

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on beech, above and below.

Long Wood and North Dean 22-05-13

Wolf's Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum), Michael's photo above, mine below.

A toad photographed by Michael.

Michael's photo of the Pleated Inkcap (Parasola plicatilis) above, my shot of the gills below.

Glistening Inkcap (Coprinus micaceus).

Microfungi on dead sunflower stem (Helianthus annuus)

I decided to examine the dead stem of my sunflower which has been laying in my garden over winter. I thought it would amuse me for five minutes, but I ended up staring at it for well over an hour and trying to capture some good images. This was very tricky as they were all microfungi and some were at odd angles. The stem is very fragile and brittle, and still rooted in the soil, so I didn't pull it as it may have destroyed the stem, along with the specimens. I shall endeavour to identify them tomorrow, by going through Ellis & Ellis, and update the blog if I am successful, or if anyone knows what they are please let me know, as I would be grateful of the assistance, also I haven't had time to put them under the microscope today, but I shall try to view them tomorrow. All photos have been severely cropped, as all the specimens were so small.

Another Cordyceps in Hardcastle Crags 20-05-13

Despite Oliver having tonsillitis and conjunctivitis, he desperately wanted to go for a foray in the Crags today, after reading his favourite fungi book. He really enjoyed the afternoon searching for fungi and it was great to see him back to enjoying mycology again. We did find another Cordyceps which I have now identified and some rather unusual looking cups. Either these Cordyceps are very common, or I am very lucky to find them, but at the moment, I'm not sure which one it is.

Ophiocordyceps ditmarii. The fruit body was 2cm tall. 

Close up of the fly.

Pinecone Cap (Strobilurus tenacellus).

Pinecone Cap (Strobilurus tenacellus), cap above and gills below.

Spring Pin (Cudoniella clavus) - above and below.

Ogden at the weekend

Grey Disco-Hardcastle Crags 26-04-13

Grey Disco (Mollisia cinerea).