Help with ID please

[dmclean2]

Hi Guys,
I found these fungi behind a couple of parked up excavators that I had to examine, and guess what, no camera , so I put them in the van , they were growing on road metal stones and would have been destroyed by the tracks when the macines were moved,
I took the pics when I got home, they were a bit better than that earlier, the top of the fungi was brown and velvety to the touch and the underside was more leathery , like they were upside down, I think they are Brown Cups - Rutstroemia firma ( Poculum firmum) but I'm not sure,
I'd appreciate any help on ID, Cheers.
Duncan.

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by dmclean2

Hi Guys,
I found these fungi behind a couple of parked up excavators that I had to examine, and guess what, no camera , so I put them in the van , they were growing on road metal stones and would have been destroyed by the tracks when the macines were moved,
I took the pics when I got home, they were a bit better than that earlier, the top of the fungi was brown and velvety to the touch and the underside was more leathery , like they were upside down, I think they are Brown Cups - Rutstroemia firma ( Poculum firmum) but I'm not sure,
I'd appreciate any help on ID, Cheers.
Duncan.

Try soaking the specimens in water for a couple of hours (seriously !) and I think that they might turn into Auricularia auricula-judae !! [Jew's Ear] -these look like old fruitbodies of that to me !

Nick

[Leif]

Looks more like a cup fungus to my eyes, maybe Paxina leucomelas. Still, Nick's idea will decide for sure whether or not it is Jew's Ear, since that would become gelatinous.

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by Leif

Looks more like a cup fungus to my eyes, maybe Paxina leucomelas. Still, Nick's idea will decide for sure whether or not it is Jew's Ear, since that would become gelatinous.

Yes, thats a good point Leif - it could be old Helvella leucomeleana actually, since that goes leathery when dried and has a stalk !

Nick