Cragg Vale 28-01-13

Following all the excitement with the Pithya vulgaris, I decided to explore Cragg Vale, which is close to home and a really lovely place to go for a foray.

Above and below: Beech Woodwart (Hypoxylon fragiforme).

Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum).

White Brain (Exidia thuretiana).

Birch Woodwart (Hypoxylon multiforme). 

Crystal Brain (Exidia nucleata).

Fir Disco (Pithya vulgaris) Ogden Water

The fantastic discovery of the Fir Disco (Pithya vulgaris), all started when my good friend Bruce Hoyle first posted a photograph on the 5th January on the Halifax Scientific Society, Mycology blog, after he had seen them on the recycled Fir (Abies) trees for the past few years. I finally went up to have a look at them, not knowing what they were. Samples of the fungus were sent to Mal Greaves, from the Mid-Yorkshire Fungus Group, Nick Aplin from The Sussex Fungi Group and finally to Kew Gardens for identification. Mal and Nick positively identified them so everyone was very excited and just waiting for confirmation from Kew, which finally came from Brian Spooner on the 31st January that they were Pithya vulgaris and records have now been updated. The fungus has been extinct in Britain since 1888 and there had only been one previous record of it before in 1870.  Bruce has seen it now for several years at Ogden Water and it appears to be very well established.

LINK to Bruce and Emma's first picture of this fungus.

Conifer Disco (Lachnellula subtilissima), were also found in great numbers. Identified by Mal Greaves.

Bracket to I.D.

Hi all

Can this be identified with certainty without a specimen?
Found at Cromwell Bottom this Saturday.

Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa)

I was very thrilled to see the Mitula paludosa on the 10/04/13, after Michael Sykes had informed me that they should now be starting to appear in the clough, as he has found and recorded them there in the past. Michael and I went again on the 12/04/13, but were unable to find any more specimens, but we shall continue to monitor their progress and update the blog accordingly. I did examine a sample under the microscope, but I could not yet see the spores clearly and was unable to take a spore print, due to their immaturity. 

Above - Michael's photo of the Mitrula paludosa

The tallest was only probably 2.5 cm, when mature they can grow to 5 cm high. 

Iodophanus carneus. 11-04-13

Iodophanus carneus.

This little fungus has been puzzling me for a while now, until I finally identified it today using a book that I have borrowed from Michael

It has been growing very happily on my rabbit dung and multiplying in great numbers. I think the reason it has taken me so long to identify it, is due to the fact it doesn't feature in many popular fungi identification books. However, it is widespread and common and can be found on  different types of dung and also on rotting vegetation.

When I viewed them under the microscope I could clearly see the eight spores which, are elliptic and hyaline, in one or two irregular rows in the ascus. Asci are broadly clavate, and stained blue in Melzers.  

Park Wood, Elland - 17-01-13

A trip to Park Wood, Elland to see the Albino Jelly Ear on a frosty, cold day was well worth the effort.

Albino Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula - judae) var. lactea, in the centre of the photograph, directly under the snow.

Diatrypella quercina.

Cramp Balls or King Alfred's Cakes (Daldinia concentrica), above and below.

When I cut into a section, you could see the concentric rings perfectly. 

Dessicated Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa). None of us knew what this was, being novices, until Dorset Mushroom Hunters enlightened me on Ispot and I did an experiment and rehydrated it, and the results are shown below . 

Elder Whitewash (Hyphodontia sambuci).

Calloria neglecta, Scout Road Park - 18-03-13

Calloria neglecta, found on dead nettle stems at Scout Road Park. It is an extremely common species to find at this time of year. 

Calloria neglecta in situ.

I rehydrated them at home and took these photographs (above and below) using a microscope.

Thank you to members on Ispot for assisting me with this identification.

Trichia decipiens, Jumble Hole Clough 08-03-13

Trichia decipiens, a Myxomycete, commonly referred to as a Slime mould, found at Jumble Hole Clough earlier this month. Many thanks goes to Nick Aplin for examining and postitively identifying it.

Didymella lutea

These tiny cups were identified by Nick Aplin as a lichenised ascomycete - Didymella lutea.

According to Nick - "In the pic below you can see the two celled spores lined up in an ascus with a couple of green cells floating about from it's algal symbiont".

Photo courtesy of Nick Aplin.

Violet Bramble Rust (Phragmidium violaceum) 04-03-13.

Whilst I was looking for the Herald of Winter (Hygrophorus hypothejus) at Ogden Water, I came across a rust fungus on Blackberry leaves (Rubus fruticosus), the common name is Violet  Bramble Rust, (Phragmidium violaceum). 

Hardcastle Crags 13-01-13

All the lovely clumps of Velvet Shanks and Honey Fungus, that had nearly covered some of the trees, had all disappeared now that winter had set in, so these specimens were the best that was on offer, in the Crags that day, or maybe it was the otherway round...the best I could find!  

A particularly photogenic Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor).

Southern Bracket (Ganoderma australe).

Dog Vomit (Mucilago crustacea), a Myxomycetes, commonly referred to as Slime Moulds.

Hardcastle Crags 11-01-13

It was a really frosty morning, Oliver was at school and I was still suffering from cabin fever, induced from being house bound over the Christmas holidays so I just had to get out and have a walk with Basil, my dog.

Frozen Black Bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans).

Turkey Tails (Trametes versicolor) and Mucilago crutacea on the lowest bracket.

Conifercone Cap (Baeospora myosura),  above and below.

A lovely clump of Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon).

Frozen Exidia glandulosa, above and below.