Lycoperdon Nigrescens or Perlatum?

KeenTeen17 · #1 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 07:27 PM

This was growing on the base of a dead chestnut tree alongside a mycena sp.

Sorry again about the bad photo. it was getting dark and my flash just turned it into a big ball of light!

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi KT, been out again?

Well, much too light for L. nigrescens, and slightly off colour but on the base of a tree, so it's Lycoperdon pyriforme! At least I'd hope so!

Would you agree?

Nick

KeenTeen17 · #3 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 07:38 PM

it did look a bit like it but at the time I thought it was a bit big.

as a matter of fact I have only been up a small path near my dads house that has a few trees!

nowhere exotic!

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 07:46 PM

It's always good to go local!

kiltoncomp · #5 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Hi KT, been out again?

Well, much too light for L. nigrescens, and slightly off colour but on the base of a tree, so it's Lycoperdon pyriforme! At least I'd hope so!

Would you agree?

Nick

Hi Nick & KT,
your quote of "but on the base of a tree, so its lycoperdon pyriforme" is a bit misleading as just recently i have been finding quite a few lycoperdon perlatum growing on well decayed stumps in Clumber, they were much to large to be L.pyriforme (at least thats what i thought) and had the same warty appendages of perlatum,if they were mature specimens of pyriforme would not the warts have fallen off by then ? , also they were mostly in ones or twos and most of the pyriforme i have found have been in large clusters ,
most of the stumps were well decayed so they could have been growing in accumulated detritus that has collected over a long period and not on the actual wood itself? (i never thought to look at this , as L.perlatum grow by the hundreds in this area! , so you tend to just pass them by)
its not a criticsm ,just a thought to bear in mind ,

Brian

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 09:02 PM

An interesting point made well Brian.

I mentioned the hue of the Lycoperdon in question as being slightly 'Off colour', and then went on to say Lycoperdon pyriforme.

Very true though, not only L. pyriforme grows on stumps, but the off colour/leather-like ones are more than likely this species.

EDIT; I see what you mean about the warty appendages. Very true you are. I don't think we can say that all of this species lose their warts in maturity, but when I think about it, 99% of them I've ever seen have. Well spotted.

kiltoncomp · #7 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 09:11 PM

Hi Nick,
i was not questioning your comments on the id of the species,it was just that to someone just getting into fungi would see that and think "its on a tree stump - it must be lycoperdon pyriforme - it say so on WAB"
(a position i would have been in this time last year

,)
it just proves that even the "easy" ones can be misleading sometimes , especially to a beginner,

Brian

NickCantle · #8 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 09:15 PM

Oh I know you weren't questioning mate, I was just making sure I put the right thing

It's so hard to have text interpreted the wrong way than you had intended so I cover all ground now

fairplay · #9 (**permalink**) 26-10-2008, 09:51 PM

As the wood is slowly broken down and becoming humus, Agaricus spp. and Scleroderma spp. can grow on it.

Neil.

FungiJohn · #10 (**permalink**) 27-10-2008, 04:32 PM

Another way to distinguish them is to examine the spines on the top surface.

In the case of Lycoperdon nigrescens they are in groups pointing together inwards. Whilst in Lycoperdon perlatum the spines are single. Eventually the spines shed, leaving a reticulate pattern on the surface of the peridium.

Rob's excellent images show this well:

Lycoperdon nigrescens:

Lycoperdon perlatum:

John