Fluffy cup fungi

[CapAndBracket]

Interested in any comments on this one (sorry about photo quality),
it really is fluffy, somehow i didn't think it looked like attack from
another fungi but of course that may be so.


I believe there is a species of peziza that take this form (maybe internet mis-information)
but thought they were on elder, whereas these were on litter under a rotting betula branch.
Maybe something to send to experts!


Cheers J.P.

[CapAndBracket]

X1000

This caper can be hard and leave one full of doubt, after tea i suddenly
thought i may have had brain fade and of course the fluffy cup fungi would
be a species of Lachnum.
Under the microscope spores approx 22x10 um, way to big for Lachnum.sp.
Lachnum paraphyses lanceolate these are slightly swollen.


X1000

The fluff (spines at this magnifycation) were definately septate though the septa
are not clear in this image (more frustration). After much book searching these
appear to be juvenile Tarzetta.sp (probably T.cupularis) a species new to me and
if i had realised i would have left them in situ and monitored. oh well i assume a few
mistakes are acceptable.

Cheers J.P.

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

After much book searching these appear to be juvenile Tarzetta.sp (probably T.cupularis) a species new to me and if i had realised i would have left them in situ and monitored. oh well i assume a few mistakes are acceptable.

Cheers J.P.

Thanks for following the myxos up and now for following up on this JP. I have been fortunate enough to see T cupularis - it looked nothing like these! Is the fluff really made up of hairs or spines? The mature specimens do not sport that fashion accessory!

Richard

[CapAndBracket]

Thank's for the comments. Ellis and Ellis description for Tarzetta includes
"outer surface downy, hairs very short, hyaline"
Jordan has "margin which bears coarse matted hairs when young"

I mentioned the hairs were septate as the description for Lachnum
states hairs septate but for Tarzetta this isn't mentioned.

The septa (internal partitions along the spines) were definately
there though the photo didn't pick out such fine detail.

This does highlight another frustration with clearly imaging (understanding)
these hyaline elements, and i did wonder if, images in water to capture
natural colour and structure plus the same image taken under polarized
light would maybe capture structural detail.

I certainly need to improve in all areas, and can only hope my amateur
ramblings are of some comfort to anyone else struggling with some ID's.

But, hey it's real interesting.

Cheers J.P.

[Alantb]

I think this could be a species of Leucoscypha, perhaps L. leucotricha. See Ellis 'Fungi on Miscellaneous Substrates', page 79, described as 'cup-shaped, sessile, covered with long white tapering septate hairs...'. The spores are supposed to have minute spines. (I think that means using oil-immersion). Only snag is that the asci are supposed to be 300u long, I can't tell that from your otherwise excellent pictures. But it isn't a Tarzetta, it's too small.
Good Luck!

[CapAndBracket]

Many thank's for your comments.

It's been real difficult trying to capture an image that shows just
how fluffy this is.



Also i noticed right beside it another tiny (cap and stem!), this is
now in a moist chamber hopeing it will develope.



Cheers J.P.

[CapAndBracket]

X1000

Better image of spores and asci, as you say the majoriy of features
fit with Leucoscypha.sp. (not sure about spores minutely spinulose)


Cheers J.P.

[Nettle Runner]

Hi JP
I found something similar this weekend



But I don't think there will be much left after the snail has finished

Les

[CapAndBracket]

Oh you caught one in the act, i suspect this is what happens to a fair
percentage of the immatures i photograph one day and can't find the
next. Hopeing they will leave this lone lycogala.sp (i left in situ ) to mature.



Note: 2 discomycete species in photo, i think Orbilia.sp and Mollisia.sp.

Cheers J.P.