What the heck?

[Fungus Ken]

Stuck at home with a fractured leg and bored, I thought I'd trawl back through a few old photos and came across this one.



Never did find out out what it was. It was growing on a fallen branch of a deciduous tree, in Wales. I'm not even sure it's fungal.

Any thoughts on what it might be?

Although it does look like a set of nicotine-stained teeth, this is quite genuine and not a trick. They were definitely growing on the wood. In terms of size they would have been about child teeth-sized rather than adult teeth-sized.

It was possible to squish them between your fingers and the texture was a bit like a small plant bulb. There were no obvious structures under the microscope and there were no spores, so if it was fungal, it wasn't a mature spore-producing body.

This is also posted in the General Wildlife Forum, to increase the chances of someone giving me a clue as to what it might be.

HELP!

Bonus question - what is the bryophyte growing on the same branch? At least I can answer that one myself but I'll let others have a go to keep me entertained.

Ken

[solus]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

Stuck at home with a fractured leg and bored, Ken

Oh, poor Ken.

If you're really bored, perhaps we could all send you our unidentified photos for consideration.

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by solus

Oh, poor Ken.

If you're really bored, perhaps we could all send you our unidentified photos for consideration.

Anything to relieve the boredom. I have to sit still with my left leg raised for a whole week to reduce the swelling, and if I do move, I can only hop around on one leg with crutches. Imagine trying to carry a cup of tea while balancing on one leg with a crutch in each hand and then hopping.

Ken

[badgerwatcher]

Really sorry about the leg, Ken.
I wonder if this is some sort of broomrape? I would go and look in various books, but I've just got a new armchair........

[Leif]

That looks like Cudoniella clavus given that the specimens appear quite large.

Here are some I found in Spring 1998.



Here is my description:

"milk tooth like jelly fungus on damp debris in bog diameter about 6mm. Top white smooth, sides white warty. Spores spindle shaped, smooth, no droplets, [snip] = (9-10)x4 um2."

Mine were found on very damp woody debris in a wet ditch, near lots of Mitrula paludosa. The damp habitat is usual and matches your specimens. I note that yours seem to have a roughness along the sides as do mine. But yours seem to have yellow-brown at the 'stem' base. According to the Swiss guides, the specimens are concave when young, so yours might be immature.

There is also the smaller C. aciculare/acicularis.

As for the bryophyte, pass.

[Leif]

Oh, and I hope you get well soon. At least you did the damage in a less interesting part of the year.

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Really sorry about the leg, Ken.
I wonder if this is some sort of broomrape? I would go and look in various books, but I've just got a new armchair........

I entirely understand about the armchair. Broomrape is an interesting thought but why would it be on wood?

Ken

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by Leif

That looks like Cudoniella clavus given that the specimens appear quite large.

Here is my description:

"milk tooth like jelly fungus on damp debris in bog diameter about 6mm. Top white smooth, sides white warty. Spores spindle shaped, smooth, no droplets, [snip] = (9-10)x4 um2."

There is also the smaller C. aciculare/acicularis.

I think you may be on to something there, thanks Leif.

I'd recognise Cudoniella acicularis because I have seen this plenty of times. But I've never seen Cudoniella clavus and your photo and description look entirely possible. Some further research to do now.

Cheers.

Ken

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by Leif

Oh, and I hope you get well soon. At least you did the damage in a less interesting part of the year.

Yes, I found the last patch of ice that hadn't melted in Manchester, but as you say, it is the least interesting part of the year for wildlife in general. Falls in and around fungi season are definitely to be avoided.

Ken

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

I entirely understand about the armchair. Broomrape is an interesting thought but why would it be on wood?

Ken

Broomrapes are parasites that key into root systems, I think, so the chances are it isn't. Toothwort is a different structure with a stems etc.

I am not a fun guy with fungi.

Tell us more about the armchair? It sounds good.