Cromwell Bottom 19th and 20th June 2013

I had a wander round yesterday in the glorious sunshine and returned again today with Michael Sykes. It certainly proved worthwhile, as we found this seasons first Russula, growing amongst the Birches which will hopefully be identified under the microscope tomorrow. There were also plenty of rusts to be seen on various substrates and thank you to Graham for lending me his mozzie repellant, I didn't get bitten once!

 Russula sp. The slugs have have been making a meal out of it and it has seen better days, but the spore print is looking good tonight. 

Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda) - above and two below.

Dandelion Rust (Synchytrium taraxaci) infecting a Dandelion (Taracum officinale) leaf.

Nettle Rust (Puccinia urticata) infecting a Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) stem.

Kuehneola uredinis infecting a Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) stem.

Puccinia pulverulenta infecting a Hairy Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) leaf

Nettle Rust (Puccinia urticata) 19-06-13

Oliver and I found this excellent specimen of Puccinia urticata infecting an Urtica dioica leaf, on the way home from school.

Hardcastle Crags 18-06-13

Spring Pin (Cudoniella clavus).

Blackfoot Polypore (Polyporus leptocephalus), on Acer pseudoplatanus.

Cap above, pores below. 

Hymenoscyphus species, I haven't had time to view it microscopically yet.

Tuberous Polypore (Polyporus tuberaster) .agg, on Quercus robur.  Cap above and pores below. 

Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), above and below.

A Myxomycete species above and below on Quercus robur. When I turned it upside down it was covered in the same species of beetle, that were mining the one I found with Michael Sykes at Rough Hey Wood last week. They must have a symbiotic relationship with certain slime moulds, as they were mating underneath it and it was a hive of activity, so I left this one in situ.

Elder Whitewash (Hyphodontia sambuci).

Wolf's Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum), on Quercus robur above and below.

Synchytrium taraxaci, above and below

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), cap above, gills below.

Brittle Cinder (Kretzschmaria deusta), above and below.

Scout Road Park 17-06-13

Oliver and I had a foray in the park after school this afternoon, and we managed to find some rust fungi.

We found Puccinia pulverulenta on quite a few Hairy Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) plants.

Close up of Puccinia pulverulenta on a couple of leaves, above and below.

Synchytrium taraxaci on a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

Rough Hey 17-06-13

Immature Dead Man's Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha), on Fagus sylvatica.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) on Fagus sylvatica. Somebody had sliced through the main fruit body with a knife and taken it away, hopefully for their dinner. 

Cromwell Bottom 16-06-13

Found by Michael today.

Nettle Clustercup Rust (Puccinia urticata).

Rough Hey Wood 01-03-13

I was still foraying, despite the winter weather and I did have a dung project to occupy myself with at home, when the conditions were too awful to consider going for a long walk, and so it was great to see some bright Elfcups on a chilly day.

Scarlet Elfcup (Sarcoscypha austriaca), above and below.

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor). 

Dessicated Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa).

Dead Moll's Fingers (Xylaria longipes).

Hardcastle Crags 15-06-13

Michael found this Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa), in the the Crags today.

Lilly Wood 13-06-13

Brittle Cinder (Kretzschmaria deusta), on Fagus sylvatica stump. You can see the perithecia on the the aged, brittle specimens, surrounding the greyish white stroma.

Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), on Fagus sylvatica stump.

Milner Royd 12-06-13

 Thistle Rust (Puccinia punctiformis).