Small caps on Larch cone - ID please.

[Gerel]

Hi

I found these growing on a larch cone on a twig caught in a hedge, ie. off the ground. I estimate the caps are around 5mm across. The only cone specialist I know is Baeospora myosura but I don't think that's it. My attempted gill shot didn't come out, I'll try again tomorrow. Any suggestions welcome.

Cheers

Steve

[leifus]

looks like a Mycena to me

[NickCantle]

Which Mycena grow on Larch cones?

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Which Mycena grow on Larch cones?

The only cone asociated Mycena I can find mention of is M. seynesii, but, while this looks like a good match I can't find anything about it growing on Larch. It seems to have always been found on pinus spp, mainly Monterey Pine.

Steve

[NickCantle]

Hmm, well I'll bet someone will come along with a little info- sorry I can't add anything but I think you can count Mycena out.

[Gerel]

I went back and collected the cone today, unfortunately the caps have already dried out and shrivelled up a lot. This was the best I could do for a shot of the gills.



Steve

[Gerel]

Hi

I'm bumping this one on the off chance that someone may have some fresh thoughts on it. It's been bugging me .

Also do you think it would be worth sending off for micro work? If so where's the best place?

regards

Steve

[mollisia]

Hallo Steve,

it is a Mycena for sure, and it also with certainty is none which is restricted to cones of Larix or even other cones. Imagine that for wood-inhabiting fungi the cones are nothing else then "wood" in most cases. There are only a few species which are confined to cones only, such as the Baeospora, Strobilurus and a few Mycenas. So your Mycena has to be sought between any Mycena species which lives on coniferous wood. And these are many .....

Originally Posted by Gerel

Also do you think it would be worth sending off for micro work? If so where's the best place?

I cannot judge how is the habit in Britain, but in Germany I would never bother a specialist with a one-fruitbody-collection, nor would I like to spend my time on it.
If on the other hand one has a pretty collection, accompagnied by a description and a foto, a specialist would more likely be interested.

best regards,
Andreas

[Chris Yeates]

hi

I think I know what Andreas means . . . there is a saying among mycologists that "one fungus is not a fungus"; meaning that you need several if you are to do serious study on a collection (also if it is at all interesting, then one should keep sufficient dried voucher material for future checking)

your later photo seems to show frass (insect larva poo) and probably has beasties in it so I wouldn't send it to a specialist in that state . . . which leads to the big question which "specialist"? sadly there aren't very many now - Peter Roberts has now left the Kew staff and I doubt he will be replaced - it all reflects the sorry state of professional mycology which has been touched on in this forum recently

I have in the past offered to look at some material for WABbers and have been able to name what they have sent, but I have limited time and have to be selective, and I'm afraid I wouldn't normally do a Mycena (I puzzle over enough of the ones I collect )

so I think Mycena sp. is probably as far as this one goes

cheers

Chris