Need Help please

[wildherbalian85]

Here are a bunch that i found growing on a patch of grass, quite a selection me thinks

Ok well the first was actually elsewere growing on an old log....

1.




2. Loads and loads of these scattered around....




3. These were in tufts....




4. Honey fungus i think.??...



5.





I have a boletus to follow in a little bit.

[CapAndBracket]

Me thinks that first one could be Rhodotus palmatus, did you try stretching it
they are somewhat elastic/rubbery.

Cheers J.P.

[Chris Yeates]

5. looks rather like a Melanoleuca

I was struggling with something like this at the weekend; it's a very difficult genus with too many characters based on subtleties of colour for my taste . . a key character is the presence/absence and nature of specialised cells on the gills called cystidia - their presence can confirm the genus at a glance, but not all Melaleucas have them; minutely roughened spores are present in most - ? all species

unfortunately books published before the last decade (and this includes Phillips) give the common one as Melanoleuca melaleuca; however, study of the type has shown that what mycologists had been giving that name to was something else, which is why the commonest GB species is called Melanoleuca polioleuca in recent works

sorry! too much information!

Chris

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

5. looks rather like a Melanoleuca

I was struggling with something like this at the weekend; it's a very difficult genus with too many characters based on subtleties of colour for my taste . . a key character is the presence/absence and nature of specialised cells on the gills called cystidia - their presence can confirm the genus at a glance, but not all Melaleucas have them; minutely roughened spores are present in most - ? all species

unfortunately books published before the last decade (and this includes Phillips) give the common one as Melanoleuca melaleuca; however, study of the type has shown that what mycologists had been giving that name to was something else, which is why the commonest GB species is called Melanoleuca polioleuca in recent works

sorry! too much information!

Chris

Chris
Never too much information. When you have been with us for a while (and welcome by the way ) you will see there are those who are very new to mycology and those who have a lot of experience. Some just want a photo identified and others who want to learn. Your experience will be a great asset to the forum as long as you don't get upset by the occasional "techy" comment which caused the loss of some very experienced contributors.

Mal

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

Me thinks that first one could be Rhodotus palmatus, did you try stretching it
they are somewhat elastic/rubbery.

Cheers J.P.

Nope, the thought never crossed my mind.. i shall check it tomorrow

But looking at some other pictures on the net i think you might have this spot on.

[wildherbalian85]

Ok here are the boletus...





I suspect them to be Birch boletus but then again they might not be

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

5. looks rather like a Melanoleuca

I was struggling with something like this at the weekend; it's a very difficult genus with too many characters based on subtleties of colour for my taste . . a key character is the presence/absence and nature of specialised cells on the gills called cystidia - their presence can confirm the genus at a glance, but not all Melaleucas have them; minutely roughened spores are present in most - ? all species

unfortunately books published before the last decade (and this includes Phillips) give the common one as Melanoleuca melaleuca; however, study of the type has shown that what mycologists had been giving that name to was something else, which is why the commonest GB species is called Melanoleuca polioleuca in recent works

sorry! too much information!

Chris

Thanks Chris

If its of any more help to you i have attached a picture of the mature specimens cap....

[NickCantle]

I still remember the massive shout of 'YESSS!!!!!!' after I found my first Cystidium on my own 'scope It was from a Melanoleuca and I remember the shape of the cystidia to be like that of a harpoon.

[wildherbalian85]

Originally Posted by CapAndBracket

Me thinks that first one could be Rhodotus palmatus, did you try stretching it
they are somewhat elastic/rubbery.

Cheers J.P.

Well i went back yesterday and i can confirm that it was a little stretchy... i didn't want to stretch it to much though just in case it snapped

[CapAndBracket]

Thank's for the update (i acctually got one right)

I have seen these on three different occasions this year (only one find by me)
so maybe a good year for them, though i am informed that they are
relatively common where elm has survived (not many places).

Cheers J.P.