Fungal connections (part 3.2)

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On the previous page I concentrated on fungal connections in terms of getting to understand the various types of fungus that can be found in woodlands, starting with the different forms of mycelium and then the underground network and symbiotic association between mycorrhizal fungi and trees. I continue here with the largest and, for me, most interesting group which are the Saprotrophic decomposers and wood-rotting fungi, before taking a much briefer look on the following page at Parasitic and Pathogenic fungi, Lichenised Fungi and, although not fungal in the true sense, Mycomycetes (slime moulds), together with any other related subjects.

3.1: Fungal mycelium

3.1a: Mycorrhizal fungi - specifically the ectomycorrhizal 'mushrooms' and their symbiotic relationship with trees

> Mycorrhizal fungi - diversity in a genus (Amanita)

3.2: Saprotrophic fungi

> Brackets and Polypores > Cauliflower fungus > Corticoid (crust) fungi > Pleurotoid agarics

> Saprotrophic agarics > Bonnets > Clavaroid (coral) fungi > Jelly fungi > Cup fungi > Flask fungi

3.3: Parasitic / Pathogenic fungi

3.3a: Mycoparasitic Mucorales

3.3b: Lichenised fungi

3.3c: Mycomycetes (slime mould)

3.3d: Fungal guttation

Associated information:

Appendix 3A: Ectomycorrhizal fungi partnerships

Saprotrophic fungi

3.2 (v.1)

The more I delve into the world of fungi, the more I've come to realise that this series of articles barely scratches the surface of this absorbing and incredibly fascinating subject. It is especially true in respect of the saprotrophic species featured on this page as they form such a large and diverse group. It's hard to know where to start and how much information to include particularly as these species are from both the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota phyla. Fortunately I have a bit more scope having moved this particular subject to its own page, so I'm going to try to include representative examples from as many of the different morphological groups that I can, starting with brackets, polypores and some other types of fungi that can be found on the trunk or branches of living trees as well as on fallen timber, and then all the various species that can be found on rotting trunks, branches and other decaying organic matter on the forest floor, or indeed any of the various forms of deadwood as covered in article 2.2.

Whilst the majority of these species are decomposers that acquire nutrients from rotting wood and other decaying organic matter rather than targeting living sapwood, there is a bit of an overlap as some also have weak parasitic characteristics. They're not specifically associated with tree failure or death like certain members of the Armillaria genus discussed towards the end of article 3.1, so categorising them as saprotrophs is okay, but it's always worth knowing the actual role they play. Similarly with the mycorrhizas as a couple of those have also crept in here in order to keep certain like species together.

Brackets and Polypores [Basidomycota > Polyporales >]

3.2a (v.3)

This group of species, which have their fertile, spore-bearing surface on the underside of a projecting, shelf-like fruitbody, can occur on both dead and dying trees, as well as on living trees if the fungus has been able to colonise the heartwood through a crack or other breakage in the structure. They are a diverse group with many different forms and colours, sizes and textures, with pores situated within vertical tubes or maze-like slots. Some are long-living perennials, whilst others fruit annually.

Ganoderma adspersum [syn.Ganoderma australe] [> Ganodermataceae] - large, tough, brown-coloured perennial bracket with a top surface that often has tiers of concentric growth layers; generally saprotrophic on dead areas of host, mainly trunks and substantial branches, but also on fallen trees or large pieces of laying deadwood; primarily associated with Beech, but also on Oak and Birch and other broadleaved species; form white-rot (refer wood-decay article 2.2a).

Ganoderma applanatum is superficially similar in some respects, but is more broadly attached, and typically thinner and harder, with a creamy-white undersurface that can be scratched to leave brown marks, hence the common name. Another feature of this bracket is that when it releases spores the surrounding area can become covered with brown dust as can be seen in the following photo.

Southern Bracket [Ganoderma adspersum]

Artist's Fungus [Ganoderma applanatum]

Fomitopsis betulina [> Fomitopsidaceae] - relatively soft, annual, brown-rot species with narrow attachment; only associated with Birch, occurring on dead sections of the host tree or on fallen trunks where it will continue to breakdown the wood.

Daedalea quercina - from the same family, is a medium-sized, fan-shaped, broadly-attached, long-lived, tough bracket with a somewhat wavy, light-tan upper surface, often with a violet/purple tinge, and an underside with thick-walled, gill-like to labyrinth pores. It's a brown-rot fungi typically occurring on Oak, singularly or overlapping, but can occasionally be found on Horse Chestnut.

Birch Polypore [Fomitopsis betulina]

Oak Mazegill [Daedalea quercina]

Laetiporus sulphureus [> Polyporaceae] - commonly known as Chicken-of-the-Woods due to its apparent flavour and texture if cooked, is a somewhat variable, slightly spongy, orange-yellow, annual, mostly imbricate, clustered polypore that forms brown rot; usually found in older trees, particularly Oak, more rarely on Sweet Chestnut, Beech and other deciduous species.

Trametes hirsuta - an annual, broadly semi-circular, initially creamy white, but developing an ochre or brownish margin and concentrically yellowish-ochre zones, and coarsely haired ridges; eventually turning grey and sometimes persisting through the winter; caps may fuse during growth; typically found on sun-exposed deadwood, particularly Beech

Trametes gibbosa - relatively thick, tough bracket that begin white but, as they develop, the top surface becomes off-white with a light-cream to beige rim; typically forming rosettes on the top of stumps and often becoming algae-stained away from the margin; the underside remains white with pores that frequently become slotted and maze-like; predominantly associated with Beech, but also on other deciduous species.

Trametes versicolor - by far the most frequently observed member of this genus; very different to the previous species and extremely variable, hence a couple of extra photos; thin, felty, and zoned in a very wide range of mainly dark colours - typically shades of brown, but also blue, green and rarely dark reddish-brown or multi-coloured, usually with narrow, dark-coloured dividing bands, and typically with a pale to white rim; scattered or an overlapping mass; occurs on all kinds of deciduous wood, particularly stumps and fallen deadwood. Trametes ochracea - an uncommon, somewhat similar, but typically brighter coloured form with concentric zones of various shades of pale-brown, ochre and orange; also less felty, almost smooth, and with the underside having slightly less compact pores; can be easily confused, but the specimen feature here appears to be this species; found in much the same situations as Trametes versicolor but, in some areas, with a preference for Birch; all Trametes species are white-rotters.

Bjerkandera adusta [> Meruliaceae] - a small-capped, annual polypore with an indistinctly zonate, finely-felty, greyish-brown top surface and small-pored fertile underside; occurs in various forms, either as a reflexed or cupped bracket (as seen here) or as a resupinate crust depending on where it's growing; a white-rot species on dead hardwood or very occasionally on conifers.

Chicken-of-the-Woods [Laetiporus sulphureus]

Lumpy Bracket [Trametes gibbosa]

Turkeytail [Trametes versicolor] - common dark-brown form

Turkeytail [Trametes versicolor] - unusual blue form

Smokey Bracket [Bjerkandera adusta]

Hairy Bracket [Trametes hirsuta]

Lumpy Bracket [Trametes gibbosa]

Turkeytail [Trametes versicolor] - frequent in shades of brown

Ochre Bracket [Trametes ochracea]

Smokey Bracket [Bjerkandera adusta]

Neoantrodia serialis (syn.Antrodia serialis, proposed Fomitopsis serialis) [> Fomitosidaceae] - extremely variable; occurring as tough, effused-reflexed brackets with a somewhat felty upper surface, initially cream to ochre coloured, later turning brown to reddish-brown, becoming fused and tiered (first photo), indistinctly zonate, and usually remaining pale around the margins, pore surface cream to pale ochraceous, leathery to woody texture (second photo) or almost completely resupinate; mostly found on cut Norway Spruce [Picea abies], stumps or on the ends of logs (third photo), or occasionally on living trees if a weakness has been exploited; in either case the mycelium penetrates the wood causing brown-rot; when the basidiocarps start to form it looks as though the wood has been painted, but up close the layered pores can clearly be seen (last photo).

Trechispora hymenocystis (possibly mollusca) [> Trechisporales > Hydnodontaceae] - a soft, white, resupinate polypore, which forms a thin, waxy to gelatinous crust-like covering that slowly spreads across the decaying wood in a light layer; the irregularly shaped pores average slightly larger than in the superficially similar Trechispora mollusca and can only be positively identified with microscopic examination of the spores.

Seried Porecrust [Neoantrodia serialis]

a polypore with no common name [Trechispora cf.hymenocystis]

Seried Porecrust [Neoantrodia serialis]

a polypore with no common name [Trechispora cf.hymenocystis]

Cauliflower fungus [Basidomycota > Polyporales > Sparassidaceae]

3.2b (v.1)

This small family of cauliflower-like branched fungi, that have segments originating from a central core, is only represented in Britain by two species, both of which cause brown-rot (refer wood-decay article 2.2a) - Sparassis crispa, commonly known as the Wood Cauliflower, may look as though it's sprouting from the soil, but is actually growing from tree roots. This particular form has curled flat branches and is only associated with conifers, especially Pine. Sparassis spathulata (syn.S.brevipes) is an uncommon, rarely seen, variant form that has flatter, less curled branches and is predominantly found at the base of Oaks or possibly Beech, although in Europe it has been found growing on conifer stumps. They are weakly parasitic, but rarely cause much harm to living trees.

Wood Cauliflower [Sparassis crispa]

variant form (no common name) [Sparassis spathulata]

Corticoid (crust) fungi [Basidomycota >]

3.2c (v.1)

A large and diverse group that comes in many different forms - capped, smooth, merulioid and spiny. Most species are decomposers that slowly degrade timber into white-rot. This is just a very small example:

Phlebia radiata [> Polyporales > Meruliaceae] - a wrinkled, variable but mostly rather vivid orange to greyish-orange resupinate merulioid crust fungus with evident radial growth particularly around the edges; occurs mainly on deciduous trees such as Beech and Oak, but also occasionally on Conifer. Phlebia rufa is a less common variant form that is more of a clay-pink colour with a smooth to wrinkled surface and a slightly wavy, rather than radiating, structure, and thin margin; predominantly found on Oak.

Phlebia tremellosa (formally Merulius tremellosus) [> Polyporales > Meruliaceae] - a rather interesting, downy to hairy, resupinate fungus when young, but with the upper edges turning up and becoming puckered as they mature; the spore surface is pinkish orange and deeply wrinkled; flesh soft, rubbery to gelatinous; can be found on fallen trunks and other large pieces of deadwood, mostly Oak and Beech, occasionally Conifer.

Stereum hirstum [> Russuales > Stereaceae] - a rather variable corticoid that is most often seen growing as overlapping reflexed, rather than flattened, brackets; leathery, typically apricot-orange with a pale irregular wavy edge; darkens with age, but with the colour and form dependant on location and exposure; saprobic on broadleaved deadwood, particularly Beech and Oak. Stereum subtomentosum has a zoned, greyish-yellow to greyish-orange upper surface with brown bands, and a beige-brown pore surface generally with a pale margin; found in similar locations as Stereum hirstum, but far less frequent.

Mycoacia fuscoatra [> Polyporales > Meruliaceae] - an uncommon resupinate spiny corticoid that forms spreading clumps and patches of pointed awl-shaped spines that are tightly attached to the substrate; the spines, which are waxy and cream to ocherous in colour when moist, but turning dark brown and brittle when dry, range from about 1 to 3mm long and are often fused at the base; the margins around the fungal patches are somewhat fibrous and floury; occasionally found on deadwood in damp woodlands.

Mucronella calva [> Agaricales > Clavariaceae] is actually a small hanging clavaroid (coral) fungus that belongs in the following group, not a spiny corticoid, but from a layman's perspective it's visually similar and can be found on the underside of larger pieces of rotting deadwood where you may also find the previous species; it typically occurs as a cluster of tiny, 1.5 to 2mm long, narrowly conical, pointed spines that emerge directly from the substrate; initially white, but yellowing with age; easily overlooked.

Wrinkled Crust [Phlebia radiata]

variant form (no common name) [Phlebia rufa]

Jelly Rot [Phlebia tremellosa]

Hairy Curtain Crust [Stereum hirstum]

Yellowing Curtain Crust [Stereum subtomentosum]

a spiny corticoid with no common name [Mycoacia fuscoatra]

Swarming Spine [Mucronella calva]

Pleurotoid agarics [Basidomycota > Agaricales >]

3.2d (v.1)

A large diverse morphological group of gilled, fan or kidney-shaped agarics that are either directly attached to the substrate in much the same way as bracket fungi, or have rudimentary lateral or excentric stems. With few exceptions, such as the

Split Gill Schizophyllum commune [> Schizophyllacea] most of these species, or at least the more common varieties, are known as Oyster mushrooms [> Pleurotaceae > Pleurotus] or, in respect of the smaller species, Oysterlings [including Inocybaceae (Crepidotaceae) > Crepidotus, Mycenaceae > Panelellus and Tricholomataceae > Resupinatus].

Schizophyllum commune - an off-white, often slightly pinkish, shaggy-looking, fan-shaped fungus that can be found growing on deadwood as laterally attached singular or overlapped, sometimes fused, brackets; or upturned, either from the short stem, or occasionally attached more centrally by the upper non-fertile surface, thereby exposing the attractive radiating 'gills' (photo required) that are split along their length and curled back.

Split Gill [Schizophyllum commune]

Pleurotus ostreatus - a rather variable species in terms of size, shape and colour, best seen in photos (two here - the second showing a particularly wet example where the caps were around 15cm wide), typically off-white to cream, or pale to darkish brown; caps convex, becoming depressed; individually attached, bracket-like, usually in crowded, overlapping groups, often high up on trunks or branches; weakly parasitic, but more frequently found on dead standing trees, sometimes fallen trunks or larger pieces of deadwood, especially Beech and Oak (although the first photo here is on dead Hornbeam).

Tree Oyster Mushroom [Pleurotus ostreatus]

Pleurotus cornucopiae - has creamy-white, convex, but becoming centrally depressed and funnel-shaped caps, which are tightly grouped in overlapping tiers, with stems that are often fused at the base forming a single point of attachment; nearly always found on old fallen trunks or large pieces of deadwood.

Panellus stipticus - has a tan, woolly upper surface, typically with in-rolled margins, becoming wrinkled and paler with age; occurs in scattered groups on fallen trunks or larger pieces of deadwood, especially Oak.

Crepidotus variabilis - small, 2cm max, fan or kidney-shaped, rubbery, transparent, stemless species with a white cap that turns creamy-ochre and exposed cinnamon-brown gills that radiate out from the central point of attachment; typically found in scattered groups on fallen twigs and small branches in deciduous woodland.

Crepidotus mollis - a larger oysterling with kidney-shaped caps up to 5cm or more across, off-white turning creamy-ochre with age and with pale brown gills that fan out from point of attachment; usually found on larger pieces of fallen deadwood.

Branched Oyster Mushroom [Pleurotus cornucopiae]

Variable Oysterling [Crepidotus variabilis]

Bitter Oysterling [Panellus stipticus]

Peeling Oysterling [Crepidotus mollis]

Resupinatus trichotis - small, 5-15mm, only occasionally larger, circular to hoof-shaped cup fungus with a hairy surface especially nearer to the point of attachment; mature cups have a brownish-black felty base within the cups, which helps to distinguish the species from the very similar, although typically paler, Resupinatus applicatus, which develops a lighter-coloured felt base; usually on the bark of dead or dying deciduous trees, or on fallen deadwood.

Hairy Oysterling [Resupinatus trichotis]

Saprotrophic agarics [Basidomycota > Agaricales >]

3.2e (v.1)

Although I only featured a handful of examples of mycorrhizal fungi in the previous article (3.2) it could easily be assumed that any agaric mushroom you find growing in woodlands has symbiotic connections with the trees, which isn't the case as many are saprotrophic. The problem is that it isn't always obvious as they may look as though they're growing directly in the soil whereas they're actually growing from buried wood or other organic matter. This section includes a few of those species together with various other examples of some of the more frequently encountered members of this large taxonomic order that can easily be determined as saprotrophic purely by nature of where they're growing.

Gymnops fusipes (syn.Collybia fuscipes) [> Marasmiaceae] - normally appears in tufts or small groups around trees; often half-buried as the stems are deep-rooted; mature specimens have a distinctive spindle-shaped stem and convex red-brown cap with an irregular incurved margin; cap becomes spotted with age; parasitic/saprobic on tree roots leading to white-rot decay and possible root failure; the photo below shows fresh growth in an exposed location near the base of an Oak where dry weather had caused both the cap and the tubby stem to split.

Rhodocollybia maculata [> Marasmiaceae] - litter-rotting fungus usually found under conifers, but occasionally growing on buried organic matter around broadleaved trees in acidic open woodlands as seen here; cap creamy to pinkish with red-brown speckles, convex then flattening with a wavy margin that often curls up to show the adnexed and crowded gills.

Macrolepiota procera [> Agaricaceae] - a distinctive and attractive saprotroph that is typically found in grassland habitats, but may also be seen in woodland clearings or along tracks and rides, either growing alone as this individual was, or in small scattered groups.

Coprinopsis atramentaria [> Psathyrellaceae] - typically occurs in clusters on soil, but always growing on buried wood; often found near the base of damaged trees.

Spindle Toughshank / Spindleshank [Gymnops fusipes]

Parasol [Macrolepiota procera]

Spotted Toughshank [Rhodocollybia maculata]

Common Inkcap [Coprinopsis atramentaria]

Coprinellus micaceus [> Psathyrellaceae] - usually found in largish groups, tightly clustered around stumps, roots or buried wood; seen here around the base of a dead hornbeam; causes white-rot; photo shows new growth towards the back where the caps are initially bell-shaped, orange-ochre brown and covered in fine white specks; later becoming convex, before turning grey and bell-shaped, then finally black.

Hypholoma fasciculare [> Strophariaceae] - usually occurring as tight groups; initially yellow to tan-orange with small domed caps, then more flattened, slightly umbonate, turning sulphur yellow, normally with darker centre; very frequent from spring to first heavy frosts; on stumps, felled trunks and other deadwood, with wide range of deciduous hosts, but also occasionally on conifers; causes white-rot, but rarely to the extent of causing tree failure.

Pholiota aurivella (syn.P.adiposa) [> Strophariaceae] - typically clustered, but sometime singularly; glazed golden-orange, greasy-capped species with scattered darker-coloured scales on the cap; occurs on both dead and living deciduous wood, primarily Beech; the mycelium grows in the centre of the trunk with the fruitbodies mostly appearing higher up, or from where the trunk has split; causes white-rot.

Mucidula mucida [> Physalacriaceae] - can be found singularly, in pairs or in abundant groups; new fruitbodies start as beige button-like caps, which develop into unmistakable, slippery and shiny, porcelain-white to ivory-coloured mushrooms; caps becoming translucent and convex, later flattening; strongly associated with Beech, either dead sections of living host, often quite high up on trunk or large branches, or on fallen deadwood; causes white-rot.

Glistening Inkcap [Coprinellus micaceus]

Sulphur Tuft [Hypholoma fasciculare]

Porcelain Fungus [Mucidula mucida]

Sulphur Tuft [Hypholoma fasciculare]

Golden Scalycap [Pholiota aurivella]

Porcelain Fungus [Mucidula mucida]

Lycoperdon perlatum [> Agaricaceae] - grows in woodland leaf-litter, usually in small groups, although the individual featured here was all alone amongst the moss; pale, pear-shaped and rather large - the darkened area on top is where a pore hole will develop though which the spores are released.

Scleroderma citrinum [> Boletales > Scelrodermataceae] - unlike the previous species, earthballs effectively have no stem; they're also mycorrhizal not saprotrophic, and are actually more closely related to boletes, so should really have been featured on the previous page, but in terms of general appearance I wanted to feature them side by side.

Common Puffball [Lycoperdon perlatum]

Common Earthball [Scleroderma citrinum]

In the same family [> Agaricaceae] as the Common Puffball, there are four species of 'bird's nest' fungi, two of which can occasionally be found in woodlands; they're rather small and very easy to miss, so I'm pleased that I can feature a couple of photos of Cyathus striatus which I believe is the most likely form I'm going to find locally, as the other species Crucibulum laeve is more commonly seen on woodchip mulch rather than growing on dead twigs or half-buried bits of wood; they start out as fully-encased, stemless, brown, hairy, spherical cups, but after a few days the top opens up to reveal a thin membrane that ruptures to reveal the fluted internal walls of the cup; each chamber holds a number of smooth, pale grey, spore-laden peridioles, which are attached by a sticky fine thread; the spores are normally dispersed when disturbed by rain hitting them; dependant on the substrate they may occur in little clusters or packed tightly together in a line as seen here.

Fluted Bird's Nest [Cyathus striatus]

(found on a small, broken-off holly branch)

Fluted Bird's Nest [Cyathus striatus]

(close up of the two fully open cups - above right)

Fluted Bird's Nest [Cyathus striatus]

(the same line of eight cups, one week later)

Fluted Bird's Nest [Cyathus striatus]

(found at the same time, growing on moss-covered wood)

Coprophilous (dung-inhabiting) Psathyrelloids [> insertae sedis]

Panaeolus papilionaceus - tall, rather pale, dry, smooth or wrinkled species with pale, dentate veil remnants at the cap margin; can occasionally be found on pony dung in the New Forest.

Panaeolus semiovatus - slimy to greasy species with an egg-shaped cap that barely expands with age, and with a stiff stem that has a distinct white ring; can sometimes be found in close proximity to the previous species.

Petticoat Mottlegill [Panaeolus papilionaceus]

Egghead Mottlegill [Panaeolus semiovatus]

Marasmioids [> Marasmiaceae]

Gymnopus androsacus - tiny, slender marasmioid mushroom with a smooth, horse hair-like stem; grows on twigs and conifer needles

Marasmius hudsonii - a small, distinctive species with long, stiff, projecting red-brown hairs on the pinkish-white cap;

occurs exclusively on dead Holly leaves, mainly in damp woodland habitats

Horsehair Parachute [Gymnopus androsacus]

Holly Parachute [Marasmius hudsonii]

Horsehair Parachute [Gymnopus androsacus]

Holly Parachute [Marasmius hudsonii]

Bonnets [> Mycenaceae]

Hemimycena tortuosa - entirely white, although becoming creamy to pale grey with age, short to long stemmed, largish bonnet with hemispherical to convex often slightly depressed cap, minutely pubescent, retaining water droplets in moist conditions; typically occurring in small groups on bark of decaying, usually lying, deciduous deadwood in wet or damp woodlands, often on sides or underneath at strange angles such that they look as though they're growing upside down!

Mycena is a particularly large genus of 100+ species of small, delicate agarics with thin stems and conical or bell-shaped caps. The sheer number of species coupled with their small size makes identification very difficult and, even though well over half can probably be discounted as they're so rarely recorded, there are very few that can be distinguished with any certainty without proper examination. And, to put that in perspective, reference to the NBN Atlas database at the time of writing only lists a dozen species locally that have more than fifty sightings most of which are from the general New Forest area, and none at all from Dorset. I think I've photographed ten, possibly more, but here are five that I think have been correctly identified.

Mycena epipterygia - somewhat variable, rather slimy, gregarious species, with fragile yellowish-brown caps with paler rim and long thin, lemon-yellow stems, mostly in coniferous woodland, but also on deciduous deadwood; Mycena arcangeliana - has a conical cap, becoming bell-shaped, greyish-brown, normally in tufts, base of stem covered in white downy hairs, up

to 8cm tall, mostly on fallen partially decayed trunks; Mycena haematopus - caps become bell-shaped, silky smooth and striate, usually warm pinkish-brown, sometimes more reddish-brown, stem slightly darker, bleeds red juice if cut, broadleaved deadwood, stumps, trunks, particularly oak, favours shady damp woodlands; Mycena inclinata - grows in tight clusters, rather greasy, pale grey to pale brown, stem orange-brown towards base, almost exclusively on Oak trunks and larger pieces of deadwood; Mycena cinerella - ashy-grey to grey-brown, cap becoming parasol-shaped with slightly depressed centre, occurs in acid habitats, typically coniferous woodland growing in small groups amongst pine needles; Mycena vitilis - pale grey-brown cap, conical to bell-shaped, slightly darker in the middle, stem long, greyish-brown usually with a pale apex and long white fibrils at the base, flexible when moist, but becoming brittle when dry, can break with a snap, occurs on woody debris in broadleaved woodland, particularly oak and beech, requires microscopic examination, so the photo below can only be deemed 'likely'; Mycena stipata - uncommon, but distinctive species, on rotting conifer wood, typically in small tufted groups, cap bell-shaped to convex, brown with a paler margin in young growth, becoming medium to darkish brown with darker striae.

Bonnets

Dewdrop Bonnet [Hemimycena tortuosa]

Yellowleg Bonnet [Mycena epipterygia]

Angel's Bonnet [Mycena arcangeliana]

Burgundydrop Bonnet [Mycena haematopus]

Clustered Bonnet [Mycena inclinata]

Mealy Bonnet [Mycena cinerella]

Snapping Bonnet [Mycena vitilis]

Clustered Pine Bonnet [Mycena stipata]

Clavaroid (coral) fungi [Basidomycota >]

3.2f (v.1)

This group includes a diverse assemblage of species from many different genera and, although I'm not too sure how many are likely to be encountered locally, I'm a little surprised that in the strict sense I can only feature two species at the moment. The visually similar Yellow Stagshorn (pictured further down) is an Ascomycete fungus with a gelatinous to rubbery body and, as such, is not classed as a clavaroid.

Ramaria stricta [> Gomphales > Gomphaceae] - there are a couple of other species in this genus that I hope to find one day but, as far as I'm aware, they're regarded as mycorrhizal, whereas this particular form is typically found growing on buried wood in Beech woodland, although it can also occur in coniferous forests. It's a reasonably large, compact and upright species that starts out white or pale cream, but slowly turns more of a buff colour with age.

Clavulina cinerea [> Cantharellales > Clavulinaceae] is an untidy species compared with Ramaria stricta; typically ash-grey in colour, although sometimes grey-brown or even occasionally tinged with lilac, with flattened branches that often look as though they've been broken off at the tip. They tend to sprout up alongside woodland paths where there's plenty of organic matter, either growing in single scattered groups or as a larger clump. Strictly speaking, they're regarded as mycorrhizal fungi, not saprotrophic, but for reference purposes I wanted to feature both species alongside each other.

Upright Coral [Ramaria stricta]

Grey Coral [Clavulina cinerea]

Jelly fungi

3.2g (v.1)

The generalised term "jelly fungus" could refer to a specific group of species from several fungal orders such as Auriculariales, Dacrymycetales and Tremellales for example that were, until quite recently, included in the now defunct taxonomic rank Heterobasidiomycetes together with smuts and rusts, or simply as a convenient header to describe any fungus with fruiting bodies that have a gelatinous consistency. This small collection of some of the more common forms includes species from both the Basidiomycota and Ascomycetes phyla.

They can take many different forms and can often look quite different dependent on the time of year as they can become shrivelled up and hard if they dry out through lack of moisture, but can then rehydrate and revive when more favourable conditions return.

Dacrymycetes [Dacrymycetales > Dacrymycetaceae]

A separately defined group of predominantly orange-yellow, wood-decaying (brown-rot) fungi.

Calocera viscosa - a distinctive, bright yellow to orange-coloured species; firm, but greasy to the touch, also feeling rubbery rather than gelatinous; variable appearance, sometimes compact and standing tall (up to 10cm) particularly when growing up through mosses, but mostly with forked, antler-like branches, either simple or as an impressive coral-like structure; virtually always on rotting coniferous wood, from stumps to even small pieces of partially buried deadwood.

Calocera cornea - same genus, but apart from having a similar colour and texture, this species has its own characteristic features; firstly its diminutive size, as the blunt-pointed horns normally range from 3-10mm tall; they may join at the base, but the fruitbodies never branch and certainly don't have an antler-like structure, so I have no idea why the species is commonly known as the 'small stagshorn; and finally, this species is found in broadleaved woodlands, not coniferous, and is primarily associated with Beech deadwood, particularly fallen trunks.

Dacrymyces stillatus - normally found in small to large trooping or fused groups; best seen when moist and fresh when dull orange-yellow, variable, but typically blob-like, smooth or wrinkled, often shiny; usually no more than 8mm across; occurs on both broadleaved and coniferous deadwood, but may also be found on old posts and fence rails.

Yellow Stagshorn [Calocera viscosa]

Small Stagshorn [Calocera cornea]

Yellow Stagshorn [Calocera viscosa]

Common Jellyspot [Dacrymyces stillatus]

'Heterobasidiomycetes' - Auriculariales and Tremellales (jelly ear and brain fungus) [Basidiomycota >]

Tremella mesenterica [> Tremellaceae] - a fairly large jelly fungus that gradually changes colour and form as it dries; initially bright yellow, lobed, gelatinous and brain-like, becoming more orange-yellow, hard, shiny and wrinkled; or, when fully dry, just a thin, almost translucent rubbery patch; most often found during the winter months on dead or fallen branches of various hardwood trees, particularly Birch and Hazel, or woody shrubs such as Gorse; but, although it grows on wood, it's actually feeding on the hidden mycelia of crust fungi of the genus Peniophora and, as such, is a mycoparasite rather than a saprophyte; frequently confused with the far less common Tremella aurantia [Syn.Naematelia aurantia] - similar when moist, but shrivelling into deep folds and becoming bright orange when dry; grows on dead timber, particularly Oak and Beech, where it parasites the Hairy Crust Fungus Stereum hirsutum; difficult to distinguish from a photo unless you can see the host species, but the location and the matt rather than shiny appearance, and a distinct pruinose surface, makes the specimen featured below very likely.

Exidia thuretiana [> Auriculariaceae] - pure white and gelatinous when wet, but almost invisible when dry; typically occurring as simple or contorted brain-like blobs, but often fused to form a larger mass; can be found on dead hardwood, particularly Beech; common, but easily overlooked.

Exidia nucleata (Syn.Myxarium nucleatum) - could be easily confused with the previous species; occurring as singular or fused, somewhat confluent, irregular hemispherical or pustular blobs; whitish, but in the right conditions milky and almost translucent with internal white crystalline grains (that should be better visible in the following photo if the specimen hadn't been partially frozen); best found on mild autumn and winter days, on decaying wet wood, particularly Beech and Ash, but also Oak and other hardwoods.

Auricularia auricula-judae [Auriculariaceae] - tan-brown with a purple tinge; outer surface wrinkled and veined, with a minutely downy texture; inner surface smooth; variable in size with individual fruitbodies from 2-8cm; usually occurring in small tufted groups; strongly associated with dead Elder, but could possibly be found on other hardwood.

Yellow Brain [Tremella mesenterica]

Yellow Brain [Tremella mesenterica]

this brain fungus has no common name [Tremella aurantia]

Crystal Brain [Exidia nucleata]

White Brain [Exidia thuretiana]

Jelly Ear [Auricularia auricula-judae]

Ascomycetes [Leotiomycetes >]

Bulgaria inquinans [Phacidiales > Phacidiaceae] - rather large, often clustered, thick-fleshed, purple-brown to dark black-brown, gelatinous fungus; the upper fertile surface initially seen as a flat top, but becomes variably cup-shaped; disc usually concave, dark purplish-black, shiny when damp; primarily found on fallen trunks or large branches, especially Oak, but can also occur on dying branches of living trees.

Neobulgaria pura (Syn.Ombrophila pura) [Helotiales > Helotiaceae] - a flesh-pink to pale brownish, highly gelatinous, often clustered species; neatly formed, conical when fresh, but becoming irregular and contorted as they expand and push up against each other; typically found on relatively recent fallen trunks or large branches, invariably Beech.

Ascocoryne sarcoides [Helotiales > Helotiaceae] - typically occurring in large clusters, this pale pinkish to darkish purple coloured fungus may be seen in either an anamorphic (asexual) or teleomorphic (mature sexual) stage; initially tiny, almost translucent gelatinous blobs that become irregular club or spatula-shaped, either in scattered groups or tightly bunched into larger patches; then later cup or disc-like, but rarely more than a few amongst the still maturing forms; common, particularly at the asexual stage, on slightly-decayed deciduous wood, including fallen trunks and branches; given the variable appearance, form and colour of this species I've included four rather different photos.

Black Bulgar [Bulgaria inquinans]

Black Bulgar [Bulgaria inquinans]

Beech Jellydisc [Neobulgaria pura]

Beech Jellydisc [Neobugaria pura]

Purple Jellydisc [Ascocoryne sarcoides]

(early anamorphic stage)

Purple Jellydisc [Ascocoryne sarcoides]

(mature teleomorphic stage amongst still maturing growth)

Purple Jellydisc [Ascocoryne sarcoides]

(not sure if it's through lack of light, but this cluster is really dark)

Purple Jellydisc [Ascocoryne sarcoides]

(a rather ragged group with blackened tips)

Cup fungi [Ascomycetes >]

3.2h (v.1)

A diverse morphological assemblage of species from various families that are often referred to as Discomycetes (former taxonomic group); primarily associated with the order Perizales, but also with Helotiales, Leotiales and Orbiliales dependent on which classification system is being used and where certain families are placed.

The fruitbody of this particular group of species is called an apothecium, which in simple terms is a sessile or short stalked disc, saucer or cup-shaped structure with an inner fertile surface called the hymenium. Most cup fungi that are likely to be found in woodlands are saprotrophic, either growing directly on deadwood or on woody or other organic matter buried beneath moss or in the soil, but there are also a few mycorrhizal species and some parasites, plus various pathogens that attack various herbaceous plants and shrubs. All of the species featured here are saprotrophic.

It's just a small selection of some of the more common species, which are separated into two defined groups.

Inoperculate cup fungi - typically smaller species that lack an operculum (lid) such that the ascospores are released passively through a small apical pore. Positive identification can be difficult if not impossible without detailed microscopic examination [> Leotiomycetes > Helotiales apart from Orbilia].

Mollisia cinerea [> Dermateaceae] - sessile, pale grey with smooth inner surface and white margin, between 1-2.5mm across, initially round, saucer-shaped when mature, but usually distorted with age; gregarious, wood-rotting, mostly on fairly decayed deciduous wood.

Calycina citrina (formerly Bisporella citrina) [> Pezizellaceae] - very short-stemmed, lemon to bright yellow, gelatinous species with a narrow rim and flat hymenium, 1-3mm across and standing no more than 2mm tall; gregarious, wood-rotting, typically on decorticated wood of deciduous trees, particularly Oak and Beech.

Chlorociboria sp. [> Helotiaceae] - two species, which are very similar; Chlorociboria aeruginosa is by far the rarer of the two; Chlorociboria aeruginascens is probably the species featured here; they are initially goblet-shaped with a very short, central to slightly offset stem, but flatten with age, growing up to 1cm across and becoming somewhat irregularly shaped; described as either dark turquoise or bright green, which is a bit confusing as this particular species is commonly known as the Green Elfcup, but looks turquoise to me; typically occurs in damp woodland and, although not apparent here, staining the wood green.

Lachnum sp. [> Hyaloscyphaceae] - around 30 species listed on the NBN database, so extremely difficult to distinguish, although worth noting that Lachnum virgineum is by far the most frequently recorded, followed by Lachnum apalum and Lachnum brevipilosum; individual species are associated with wood, plant debris, grasses etc., and although that restricts the options there's no way of trying to identify them from photos; I've seen quite a few and believe there are two or even three different forms featured here.

Tympanis conspersa - a rarely recorded tough, erumpent species consisting of small, tightly packed black apothecium with a whitish granular covering with very little information other than two species are known to occur on dead Rowan [Sorbus aucuparia] trees where these individuals were found; Tympanis aucuparia, which doesn't appear to have been recorded in Britain and Tympanis conspersa

Rutstroemia firma [> Rutstroemiaceae] - I'm not at all sure about this one, but visually and following a lot of research it looks like the best candidate even though it was photographed in April rather than in the autumn; nevertheless I wanted it in this collection so that it doesn't get forgotten; described as yellow-brown, cup-shaped, 0.5-1.5cm across, expanding to a flattened somewhat wavy shape.

Orbilia xanthostigma [> Orbiliales > Arthobotryaceae] - bright-yellow to orange-yellow, semi-translucent, short-stemmed, gregarious species; on deciduous or coniferous wood, mostly large decorticated trunks; some similar species, so the identity here is tentative.

Common Grey Disco [Mollisia cinerea]

Green Elfcup [Chlorociboria aeruginascens]

undetermined snowy disco [Lachnum sp.]

erumpent cup fungi with no common name [Tympanis conspersa]

Brown Cup [Rutstroemia firma] - tentative suggestion

Lemon Disco [Calycina citrina]

Green Elfcup [Chlorociboria aeruginascens]

undetermined snowy disco [Lachnum sp.]

undetermined snowy disco, but likely [Lachnum virgineum]

erumpent cup fungi with no common name [Tympanis conspersa]

Common Glasscup [Orbilia xanthostigma] - tentative suggestion

Operculate cup fungi - these species are characterised by the asci having an operculum, which opens or ruptures to forcibly discharge the spores. Positive identification from photos is once again difficult if not impossible [Pezizomycetes > Pezizales >].

Cheilymenia sp. [> Pyronemataceae] - apart from the apricot to yellow-orange colour, the specimen featured below looks very much like a Scutellinia, but is more likely to be an undetermined Cheilymenia sp; currently included here for record purposes as it's one that I'd like to be able to identify.

Scutellinia sp. [> Pyronemataceae] - a rather large and difficult genus with around thirty possible species that can only be positively identified through microscopic examination of the pores and hairs; however, when the available recording data is examined there are actually only a small number that are likely to be encountered; the most frequently recorded is the 'type species' Scutellinia scutellata that, in theory, can be distinguished from it's size (>11mm), smooth orange-red to brownish-red hymenium and, importantly, the very long (>2300µm) albeit variable length, red-brown, un-forked, pointed marginal hairs, and brownish orange outer surface with bristle-like hairs; Scutellinia trechispora is the second most likely species, although much rarer, and to my knowledge is the only other Scutellinia with similar length marginal hairs, but with close inspection of photos these hairs are branched, the species is also slightly smaller (>9mm), and slightly darker and has a slightly raised margin; the largest species is Scutellinia olivascens (>20mm) with short (>800µm) bristle-like marginal hairs, some of which should be s-shaped; space prevents further details, but the other species that might need to be considered are Scutellinia umbrorum (>8mm), subhirtella (>7mm) and cejpii (>14mm).

Scutellinia scutellata is typically found on wet rotted wood particularly alongside woodland streams, whereas Scutellinia trechispora is more likely to be found growing on calcareous soil, often amongst mosses; Scutellinia olivascens, the most likely contender for the 'fairly large' species featured below also occurs on rotted wood.

Aleuria aurantia [> Pyronemataceae] - a rather splendid golden-orange, cup or saucer-shaped fungus with a smooth wavy margin that becomes variably distorted particularly when growing in tight groups; inner spore producing surface shiny; outer surface paler with a fine whitish down covering, occasionally split; typically found on freshly broken ground often alongside woodland paths.

Sarcoscypha austriacea [ > Sarcoscyphaceae] - very difficult to distinguish from the very similar Sarcoscypha coccinea except that the tiny hairs (tomentum) on the outer surface are coiled rather than straightish, which can just about be seen under high magnification of a well-detailed image; fruit bodies circular to oval, sometimes elongated, deep cupped; the inner spore producing surface is scarlet red and smooth; outer surface concolourous, but appears pinkish due to the dense covering of whitish hairs; solitary or in small groups on deadwood of deciduous trees or moss-covered logs; an interesting observation according to the First Nature site is that whilst both species could be found on Hazel, Sarcoscypha austriacea tends to occur more on Sycamore or Willows, whereas Sarcoscypha coccinea favours Beech and Elms.

[Cheilymenia sp.] - tentative suggestion

Common Eyelash [Scutellinia scutellata]

undetermined eyelash fungus [Scutellinia sp.]

Scarlet Elfcup [Sarcoscypha austriacea]

undetermined eyelash fungus, but possibly [Scutellinia olivascens]

Common Eyelash [Scutellinia scutellata]

Orange Peel Fungus [Aleuria aurantia]

Scarlet Elfcup [Sarcoscypha austriacea]

Nectria cinnabarina [> Hypocreales > Nectriaceae] - a bit of a cross-over species as it can be found in two distinct forms, the most common being the asexual, conidial stage when it produces soft coral-pink, cushion-like pustules as seen here that are between 1-4mm across, and later maturing into hard, brownish-red spheres with tiny verrucose perithecia as described below; regarded as a weak pathogen of certain deciduous trees, notably Beech, as well as Horse Chestnut and Sycamore, but also found on the deadwood of Rowan; typically seen on twigs in the summer and autumn, often in large numbers.

Coral Spot [Nectria cinnabarina]

Flask fungi [Ascomycetes > Sordariomyctes >]

3.2i (v.1)

Also known as the Pyrenomycetes, which was a former taxonomic classification), the asci in this final group of sac fungi are contained inside spherical or flask-like chambers called perithecia, which are located just under the outer protective surface of the fungus. These fungi have many different forms, but most have a hard and crusty covering called the stroma that include minute pores, or ostioles as they are correctly known, that are actually the tips of the imbedded perithecia. They may be undetectable or slightly raised like a pimple, but in either case the pores act like blow-holes through which the asci eject their mature spores.

Although in the context of woodland species the majority of flask fungi are associated with deadwood, some grow on ground-laying organic matter including fallen leaves or nuts, or in soil on roots or buried wood, or even on living plants as pathogens or weak parasites. A few of the more common species that come under the subcategory of 'hard, stomatic pyrenomycetous fungi' [> Xylariales] are represented below.

Daldinia concentrica [> Hypoxylaceae] - large, typically irregularly rounded or knob-like, directly attached stromata with

a smooth, finely cracked surface, that are initially reddish-brown, but quite quickly become hard and black (hence the common name); solitary or merged into small groups on the trunks and large branches of hardwood trees, almost exclusively Ash.

Xylaria hypoxylon [> Xylariaceae] - occurs in various forms; initially arising as small prongs, but then developing into flattened or more complex, antler-like growths, standing between 2-5cm tall; black and slightly hairy towards the base,

while the upper parts become progressively covered in white powder produced by asexual spores; the powder eventually dispersing in the wind, sometimes resembling smoke like a snuffed candle; in time the whole fungus becomes charcoal-black; common on dead hardwood where it typically grows in clusters.

Xylaria carpophila [> Xylariaceae] - loosely resembles early-stage growth of the previous species, but smaller and only found growing on fallen, often half-buried, Beech nuts (masts).

Hypoxylon fragiforme [> Hypoxylaceae] - almost globose, to around 8mm across, raised growths covered in the bumpy tips of the perithecia that are buried within the surface; initially greyish-white to pink, but maturing to a mid-brown colour, before eventually turning black; occurs almost exclusively on bark of fallen Beech branches.

Hypoxylon fuscum [> Hypoxylaceae] - hemispherical to irregular, somewhat elongated, wart-like growths, often coalesced and occurring en masse on dead branches of Hazel; at the asexual (anamorph) stage, usually when the stromata are forming, the surface is powdery creamy-white, becoming vinaceous brown at majority before turning black.

King Alfred's Cakes [Daldinia concentrica]

Candlesnuff Fungus [Xylaria hypoxylon]

Beechmast Candlesnuff [Xylaria carpophila]

Hazel Woodwort [Hypoxylon fuscom]

King Alfred's Cakes [Daldinia concentrica]

Candlesnuff Fungus [Xylaria hypoxylon]

Beech Woodwort [Hypoxylon fragiforme]

Hazel Woodwort [Hypoxylon fuscom]