Possible Southern Bracket...

juliejam · #1 (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 01:57 PM

Please confirm on ID..

Many thanx

Julie

flaxton · #2 (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 03:16 PM

Julie
Almost certainly Ganoderma australe the southern bracket. It tends to be a thicker fruit body than its close cousin applanatum and usually grows lower on the tree. Unfortunately I have seen applanatum at the base of the tree and australe produce thin fruit bodies

A quick look at the spores and it is easy to differentiate

Mal

flaxton · #3 (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 03:59 PM

Fungus Ken · #4 (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaxton

Clever stuff Mal.

Ken

flaxton · #5 (**permalink**) 28-01-2008, 09:40 PM

Praise indeed from you Ken.

Thanks

juliejam · #6 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaxton

Thanx Mal for the ID and also for this spore pic..Clever stuff..

Which type of microscope would you recommend for a beginner...

Julie

Leif · #7 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliejam

Which type of microscope would you recommend for a beginner...

You could do worse than talk to Brunel Microscopes, and see if they have a used one. Make sure it has a built in lamp. For spores you need a 100x oil immersion objective. For basidia etc a 40x objective is okay.

There is another place:

Colco Scientific: Secondhand Microscopes

I have no idea if the above is any good. But about £150 will get a usable one.

I would avoid cheap Chinese ones, though Brunel can advise as they sell them too.

juliejam · #8 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leif

You could do worse than talk to Brunel Microscopes, and see if they have a used one. Make sure it has a built in lamp. For spores you need a 100x oil immersion objective. For basidia etc a 40x objective is okay.

There is another place:

Colco Scientific: Secondhand Microscopes

I have no idea if the above is any good. But about £150 will get a usable one.

I would avoid cheap Chinese ones, though Brunel can advise as they sell them too.

Thanx for this ...will have a good look around ..

Julie

flaxton · #9 (**permalink**) 29-01-2008, 09:42 PM

Julie
Literally any microscope will give you hours of fun. It just depends on how serious you want to take it. Most will allow you to see at least the shape of the spores but as Leif says to examine spores with enough accuracy you will need one with 1000x magnification and a powerful in built light source.
I used an second hand scope for years but the more modern one I bought from Brunel has been great. They were very good with their advice.
I recently bought a Seben dissecting microscope off the Internet and I have been very pleased with that but I think Brunel should be your first port of call.

Mal