ID help for a beginner.

[martinrobinson]

Hi there.
I was on holiday last week in the Lake District taking photographs and discovered the whole new world of fungi ( well new to me anyway ). I took a lot of images and now I am home have been trying to identify them. I bought a small book which to be honest didn't help much at all, so in the first instance I would like recommendations for a good field guide and a good reference book for home.
I have posted images in the Gallery and was hoping for some help in identifying them.

Taken at Yew Tree Tarn. Amethyst Deceiver?

Taken at Yew Tree Tarn. Puffball?

Taken at Rydal Water. Attractive group growing in the middle of a rotten tree trunk.

Taken at Harrup Tarn.


Taken at Harrup Tarn about 3 feet away from the previous shot.


Taken at Grizedale forest. Growing on the root of an upturned tree.

Apologies if these aren't very exciting images, but I had a great time taking them. This is certainly different to the sports photography that I'm used to. Anyway I promise I won't be annoying everyone with ID requests every week. I was just keen to get started. Thanks for any help.

[CapAndBracket]

Not very exciting You just don't know what you are saying.

Number 5 looks to me like a Cordyceps.sp (when will my searching prove fruitfull)

Number 6 has just been identified in the white fluff conifer thread.

thank's for posting them.

Cheers J.P.

[fairplay]

The Cordyceps identified here is probably capitata and would be growing from an underground species of Elaphomyces - a type of Truffle.

This is an excellent photo and one I'm sure FungiJohn would like to add to the Gallery.

Neil.

[flaxton]

No 3 with yellowish stipe and olive tones on the cap this could have been a dark variety of Mycena epipeterygia but it just might have been Mycena viridimarginata. With only one other verified find for this species it is unlikely but I would have said a specimen should have gone for id.

Mal

[NickCantle]

The now accepted name for Cordyceps capitata is Cordyceps longisegmentis I think. I found one a couple of weeks back. Photo is rubbish though!



Nick

[Steve Wurzel]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

The now accepted name for Cordyceps capitata is Cordyceps longisegmentis I think.

I can't confirm that name change Nick, and there was I thinking it would be a simple task

As far as I can tell the online checklist for Ascomycetes is with the BMS here.. British Fungi Checklist

Cordyceps sp. specifically is here.. Species list - British Fungi

and both Cordyceps capitata and Cordyceps longisegmentis seem to be happily co-existing on that list

PS Rogers Mushroom does list Cordyceps longisegmentis as being previously Cordyceps capitata or Cordyceps canadensis but is distinguished by having smaller pores. So it's microscopic difference again

[fairplay]

I can see you've been polishing the end of yours Nick.

Neil.

[martinrobinson]

Thanks for all the help. I hadn't realised it was so complicated to ID fungi. I've ordered a couple of books which I hope will help and am off to Mere Sands Wood at the weekend to see what else I can find.

Martin