Unidentified Fungi

SteveHL · #1 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 02:19 PM

This one was approx 4 cm tall, cap is 1.5 cm round. found growing in the grass beside an area that was used to compost some leaves and branches that had been shredded. There is also an apple tree and there has been some decaying apples here.

Approx the diameter of a 50 p piece and about 1.5 cm depth.
Growing on an old elm log. Are the hairs part if the fungi or is it in turn being attacked?
Thankyou for your time and help.
Regards
SteveHL

Fungus Ken · #2 (**permalink**) 23-01-2008, 07:36 PM

If you look closely at the first photo, the remains of veil on the cap form "stitches" around the edge. This is typical of Tubaria. The fact that there were wood chips there is also a good clue because Tubaria furfuracea grows readily on rotting wood chips.

In the winter months there is another species, Tubaria hiemalis, which looks similar macroscopically to T. furfuracea and is now regarded as a synonym in the new Basidiomycota Checklist. There is also Tubaria conspersa, which tends to be somewhat smaller than the other two species and retains the veil for longer. Without microscopy you can't make a firm ID.

Your second photo shows young and fresh specimens of Auricularia mesenterica. The hairs are part of the fungus and the sterile hairy upper surface will get more pronounced and darker with age.

Ken