Unidentified Fungi...

[alexhitchmough]

Hello again,

I'm seriously stuck on this one. Any ideas?



Habitat: Leaf litter, near beech tree
Cap: 2.5cm reddish brown, cracked surface, easily peels
Flesh: White, mild indistinct taste
Gills: Free, white, no bruising
Stem: 40 x 3mm, reddish brown near base, fibrous, no volva or ring, base slightly bulbous
Spores: White, elliptical, smooth, approx. 5 x 10μ

thanks in advance

Alex

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by alexhitchmough

Hello again,

I'm seriously stuck on this one. Any ideas?



Habitat: Leaf litter, near beech tree
Cap: 2.5cm reddish brown, cracked surface, easily peels
Flesh: White, mild indistinct taste
Gills: Free, white, no bruising
Stem: 40 x 3mm, reddish brown near base, fibrous, no volva or ring, base slightly bulbous
Spores: White, elliptical, smooth, approx. 5 x 10μ

thanks in advance

Alex

It's a little Lepiota Alex - you can tell by the small spur like projection on the spores !

Which Lepiota is another matter - possibly L. castanea since the colours look right but would needs further microscopy to diagnose.

Nick

[alexhitchmough]

Thanks Nick

Just had another look at the mushroom and Lepiota castanea looks right. What further microscopy could I carry out to confirm this?

Alex

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by alexhitchmough

Thanks Nick

Just had another look at the mushroom and Lepiota castanea looks right. What further microscopy could I carry out to confirm this?

Alex

Once you've noted the spurred spores you are well on your way but with Lepiota you should also check the nature of the cap cuticle. The key in Flora Agaricina Neerlandica 5 says that L. castanea would have a cap cuticle "made up of erect, (non)-septate elements and a layer of flexuous repent coloured hyphae".

So now you know. Not a very user friendly description. The cylindrical elements in the cap cuticle of this species can be either septate or non-septate, hence the confusing description. It's a very variable species.

You could also check for clamp connections, if you know what to look for, because this species has them in all tissues.

But don't tell young master Cantle I told you so, otherwise he'll be giving me a roasting for going into too much detail and taking all the fun out of it.

Ken

[alexhitchmough]

Thanks Ken.

I've just read some descriptions of clamp connections and viewed some animations on how they are formed. So I now feel fairly confident I could recognised one "IF" I saw it. So bearing in mind I've only ever used a microscope for the past week, how do I best go about mounting a sample to see clamp connections?

Will x40, x100, x400 or x600 magnification be best? Do I need any to use any stains? Which tissue sample is best to use?

Alex

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by alexhitchmough

how do I best go about mounting a sample to see clamp connections?


Alex

In my very limited experience, mainly from a workshop with Michaeal Jordan where a specific exercise was carried out to show clamp connections, finding one is dependent on the correct rotation along its axis. And that's down to the luck of the draw or should I say squash!

David

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by alexhitchmough

Thanks Ken.

I've just read some descriptions of clamp connections and viewed some animations on how they are formed. So I now feel fairly confident I could recognised one "IF" I saw it. So bearing in mind I've only ever used a microscope for the past week, how do I best go about mounting a sample to see clamp connections?

Will x40, x100, x400 or x600 magnification be best? Do I need any to use any stains? Which tissue sample is best to use?

Alex

Obviously the first thing to do is pick on a species that actually has clamp connections, many do not. Then if you take a thin slither from either the flesh or the cap cuticle, mount it in Meltzers Reagent. You should be able to see the clamps clearly at x40-x100.


Andy

[alexhitchmough]

Thanks Andy & David.

I don't have any Melzer's reagent. Will it possible to view clamp connections without it?

I was thinking about joining the ABFG (Association of British Fungus Groups) so I can obtain some from them. Can I get it from anywhere else?

Could I use Congo red or is that a silly question?

cheers
Alex

[flaxton]

Alex
I would say Congo Red will allow you to see the clamp connections perfectly in most cases.

Mal

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Alex
I would say Congo Red will allow you to see the clamp connections perfectly in most cases.

Mal

Agreed

Andy