unidentified fungus

[pencoose]

Can anyone identify this fungus please? It is widespread in an area of well drained open lawn surrounded by mature beech, ash and oak trees. The soil is acidic. The topsoil is thin over a shaley subsoil. Is there a way of controlling/eradicating this fungus please?

Best wishes to all.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by pencoose

Can anyone identify this fungus please? It is widespread in an area of well drained open lawn surrounded by mature beech, ash and oak trees. The soil is acidic. The topsoil is thin over a shaley subsoil. Is there a way of controlling/eradicating this fungus please?

Best wishes to all.

I would like to be able to help you with your lawn fungus but I can't make anything out except pinkish patches? You need to get closer with your camera without blurring the pic to give us something with detail to work with.

Andy

[Steve Wurzel]

Originally Posted by pencoose

Is there a way of controlling/eradicating this fungus please?

Probably not, I don't know of any reliable method of removing a fungus once established, and adding extra doses of weedkiller will not kill the funghus but will make the mushrooms toxic, even if they are normally edible.

If you post a better set of photos we might be able to establish if it's likely to be edible or toxic, in which case there might be a better alternative to eradicating it. (ie eating them )

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by pencoose

Can anyone identify this fungus please? It is widespread in an area of well drained open lawn surrounded by mature beech, ash and oak trees. The soil is acidic. The topsoil is thin over a shaley subsoil. Is there a way of controlling/eradicating this fungus please?

Best wishes to all.

Hi Pencoose !

The photo is not very good (!!!) but this is reminiscent of one of two diseases - either 'Dollar Spot' caused by an ascomycete called Sclerotinia homeocarpa

OR

'Red Thread Disease' which can be caused by either of two basidiomycete, corticioid species viz. Laetisaria fuciformis or Limonomyces roseipellis

You can try watering a proprietary fungicide onto the affected patches but probably won't have much luck in killing any of them ! They do however die out naturally (apparently !)

Nick

[Fungus Ken]

My, what good eyes you have Nick.

I can't make anything out from the photo.

Ken

[watsthat]

I wonder if its not fungal at all. Maybe some kind of liverwort.

Pete

[fairplay]

Naww, you're all wrong, it's last years leaves which didn't get swept up !

Seriously though, I can't define anything from the photo, but I expect one of Mykoniks two 'reminiscences' is right.

If a fungicide drench doesn't work and it doesn't die off naturally, give aeriation a try with a strong fork. I read somewhere that works for 'Fairy Rings' (didn't work for me).

Anyway, what's wrong with it ? I would just leave it be unless the Queen is coming to tea.

Neil.

[pencoose]

Sorry about the quality of the original picture. Apologies to all who have been kind enough to reply. Here is a close up of the fungus in question which, I hope, may make it easier to identify. Could it be dog lichen do you think?

Best wishes and thanks for your help.

[fairplay]

It looks like it to me, unless you're a lawn perfectionist, I wouldn't worry about it.

Neil.

[Fungus Ken]

Originally Posted by pencoose

Could it be dog lichen do you think?

Yes it is dog lichen, Peltigera sp.

Unless you are particularly fastidious about the appearance of your lawn, I'd suggest you welcome it as part of a biodiverse garden.

Ken