North Dean Wood 17-05-13

I thought I would have another wander around North Dean Wood on returning home from Halifax and found another Ophiocordyceps ditmarii.

Above three: Dead Moll's Fingers (Xylaria longipes), on sycamore

Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa).

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), on Ash.

Ophiocordyceps ditmarii, above and the three images below.

I found these two different species (above and below) of micro-fungi under oak leaf litter, whilst trying to find another Cordyceps. They were both only approximately  0.2 mm long.

Red Raspberry Slime

Whilst Michael was taking photographs of the Bluebells today he came across a genus of slime mould commonly named as Red Raspberry Slime (Tubifera ferruginosa). The compressed clusters of sporangia resemble red raspberries, then turn to a brown mass when they reach maturity. All photographs below, were taken by Michael.

Albino Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Bluebell heads (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Red Raspberry Slime (Tubifera ferruginosa).

Colden Clough and Copley - St. George's Mushroom 16-05-13

Michael and I had a foray at Colden Clough this morning, we did not come across much apart from these immature Xylaria longipes growing on a sycamore branch. However, it was a very pleasant walk and the bluebells were blooming, the waterfalls were very dramatic and we did see a couple of newts in the dam. Then off we went to pick some Calocybe gambosa, and I ended up taking them home and cooking them as part of Oliver's dinner, however he wasn't too keen so I ended up eating most of them, and they were very delicious too, lightly fried in butter. I also checked on the Polyporus squamosus but most of them had been vandalised, however when I pushed away the undergrowth surrounding the stump, there was one left intact that they must have missed.

Dead Moll's Fingers (Xylaria longipes), all above on sycamore. The longest one measured   27 mm.

St. George's Mushroom (Calocybe gambosa).

Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus), cap above with a slug exploring the surface and the underside shown below.

North Dean Wood 15-05-13

I walked a circular loop of North Dean, up over the rocks and back down again and the view from the top was fantastic, I wish I had taken a photo. The jelly fungi are now rehydrated with all the rain we have had over the past few days and I also found an Oak log covered in a Peziza species. 

Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa).

Dessicated Toothed Crust (Basioradulum radula), on oak.

Peziza. agg. I did think they were Palomino Cup (Peziza repanda), but I am not one hundred percent sure.

This group above, were the most mature specimens and they were found on the lower section of the oak log and the margins of the fruit bodies were red and warty.

The largest was approximately 6-7 cm diameter x 3 cm tall.

Immature specimens were approximately 1 cm diameter.

Last but not least, I found a Ophiocordyceps ditmarii, approximately 2.5-3 cm cm tall growing on an insect underground, unfortunately I did not uncover the buried host. I originally thought it to be a Xylaria until I found another specimen on the 17-05-13.

Hardcastle Crags 08-02-13

The weather had actually warmed up a little, compared to what it had been at Park Wood and the sun had managed to make a small, but welcome appearance and so I was able to spend a few hours in the Crags without becoming totally numb.   

Coral Spot (Nectria sp.  I thought the bright red perithecia was very intricate and impressive.

Oak Mazegill (Daedalea quercina), cap above, pores below.

Dead Man's Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha).

Southern Bracket (Ganoderma australe), above and below.

Witches' Butter (Exidia glandulosa).

Artist's Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum).

I do not know what the fungus or myxomycetes is above and below. However, I thought it quite interesting as the probable fruiting bodies looks like little red berries (see either side of the orange slime). If anyone can help with the identification, I would be very grateful.

Hardcastle Crags 10-05-13

It turned into a wet foray this morning as headed into the Crags. This time I managed to find a mature Pinecone Cap and some Lachnum species on various cones. The last photo I haven't identified yet and but after magnifying them under low magnification, they appear to be a micro-cup fungus. I have slides of the cup and spores which I will examine later and update the blog accordingly.

Dorsal view of Pinecone Cap (Strobilurus tenacellus)

Lateral view.

Gills of Pinecone Cap

A Lachnum species on larch cone (Larix).

Lachnum species on a spruce cone (Picea)

These fungi looked like tiny pale brown, cushions that I found on a Larch cone

North Dean Wood 06-02-13

A long walk on a really cold day proved to be a successful foray and the Elfcups and Jelly Ears were at their best. However the weather wasn't, it was absolutely freezing and by the time I got back to the car my feet were absolutely numb.

Scarlet Elfcups (Sarcoscypha austriaca).

Jelly Ears (Auricularia auricula-judae), above and below.

Sycamore Tar Spot (Rhytisma acerinum).

Elder Whitewash (Hyphodontia sambuci).

Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum).

Beech Jellydisc (Neobulgaria pura).

Coral Spot (Nectria cinnabarina).

 Wrinkled Crust (Phlebia radiata).