'Shrooms at Pamber Forest!

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by cybershot

A fine shot of the Sarcoscypha austriaca - Scarlet Elfcup, Nick, (I think CapAndBracket should change the style of his head gear to reflect his panache at tracking down this species ) and nicely isolated from the background. As soon as he headed for the stream I guessed we were in with a chance. BTW both Jordan and Phillips have this as "(early) winter to (early) spring" and "Infrequent/Occasional". It would be interesting to know if, amongst the masses being found the length and breadth of the country right now, there are any of the less common Sarcoscypha coccinea going unrecognized? Perhaps J.P. should put a few under his microscope.

David

There is an article in the Spring 2008 edition of The Forayer which goes some way to answering my query but still leaves a big question mark about distinguishing between austriaca and coccinea; a variety or a colour aberration?

[Fungus Ken]

It doesn't seem like you would be able to tell the two species of Sarcoscypha apart without microscopy but the differences in the shape of the spores and the hairs seem quite apparent in the photos in the article.

Bet it's not quite as straightforward when you come to look yourself though. The article hints at this in terms of the differences in spore shape - "not all conform to this pattern...".

What's the betting the specimen you are looking at has spores that don't quite fall into either category of round-ended or flat-ended, but rather somewhere in between?

Ken

[NickCantle]

That's when we know we've got the elusive Sarcoscypha cocciriaca Ken

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

That's when we know we've got the elusive Sarcoscypha cocciriaca Ken

With Pauline's views on these matters, I think if it comes to that she will be telling you where you can shove your cocciriaca.

Ken

[CapAndBracket]

This cross section of the Scarlet elf cup, i thought was interesting as it shows the scarlet lining is very thin in comparison to the supporting matrix, i wonder if the two ! Sarcoscypha. sp show any difference in this feature.

Cheers J.P.

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by cybershot

This monster which I first found in 2006, and reported soon after as having been vandalized, soon regenerated itself to a fabulous landmark of the woods and was enjoyed by all including my granddaughter, until recently when it has been vandalized once again.

2006


2007

This week saw the end of an era in Minley Wood when this beech stump and one of the locality's best known landmarks - a magnificent Ganoderma australe (well over 1m across) - came crashing down across the path. After surviving so much vandalism it is sad but fitting that nature dealt the final blow:

[CapAndBracket]

Wasn't that the one with the hornets nest in it, what a time of year to
be made homeless

Cheers J.P.

[NickCantle]

This is very saddening David, I remember the tree well. That'll leave a large empty space in that small clearing wont it?

[cybershot]

Walked past it again this morning and really wanted to saw the log and fetch it home to my garden but it's just too big. The rotted beech wood right in the core of the stump is just like a wet sponge - the power of fungi!
David

[NickCantle]

I suppose it's irony that the thing you loved about the tree so much, killed it.