Small Wavy Bracket for ID Please.

[NickCantle]

Sorry Mike, looking back on that, I didn't word it too well.

What I'm trying to say is that I don't think I've seen near enough fungi in my lifetime to distinguish the difference between the description 'common' and 'uncommon' to me, you're either likely to find it or you're not. Rare seems like a more important status than all of the in-betweens.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Sorry Mike, looking back on that, I didn't word it too well.

What I'm trying to say is that I don't think I've seen near enough fungi in my lifetime to distinguish the difference between the description 'common' and 'uncommon' to me, you're either likely to find it or you're not. Rare seems like a more important status than all of the in-betweens.

Cheers Nick.

I guess on the balance of probability, I should opt for S. hirsutum, but as there's some doubt, I'll log it as Sterium sp.

Regards
Mike.

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Hi guys,

Phillips doesn't include S. subtomentosum, but in Jordan it is stated to be rare apart from in the southernmost counties of England.

As my find was in Lancashire, and the fungi is in great abundance in the location (Sunnyhurst Woods), I assume that it would most likely discount S. subtomentosum. - Or is it a lot more widespread than Jordan says?

Regards
Mike.

According to the Basidiomycota checklist S subtormentosum is "Common and widespread throughout England and Wales. Once considered a rarity but has spread rapidly in recent years."

[flaxton]

Mike
It should turn yellow on bruising so next time you find it give that a try

Mal

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

According to the Basidiomycota checklist S subtormentosum is "Common and widespread throughout England and Wales. Once considered a rarity but has spread rapidly in recent years."

Hi SheffieldLass,

Thanks for the pointer to the basidiomycota Checklist. I've just found it online, and added it to "favourites" for future reference.

It does indeed say common and widespread throughout England & Wales.

However, when S. subtomentosum was mentioned by watsthat, I had a look on the British Mycological Society site, on the NBN gateway section. The distribution map for S. subtomentosum on there only shows two sites in the Lancashire area, (approx. locations Ellesmere & Stockport - but nowhere near Sunnyhurst Woods in Darwen).

As a beginner to this subject, it is somewhat confusing when different "professional" bodies (and reference books etc. etc.) seem to give conflicting information.

Ah well it all adds to the fun

Regards
Mike.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

As a beginner to this subject, it is somewhat confusing when different "professional" bodies (and reference books etc. etc.) seem to give conflicting information.

If you want your interest to last mate, you'd better get used to it

In my experience, NBN is rather vague with its records in my area whereas others, including the ABFG's ever-growing CATE database is choc full.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

If you want your interest to last mate, you'd better get used to it

In my experience, NBN is rather vague with its records in my area whereas others, including the ABFG's ever-growing CATE database is choc full.

If you knew me well Nick, you'd know I'm like a dog with a bone - so whether I get ID's or not, it won't stop me from trying.

Again thanks for the ABFG advice - I had no idea what that meant, but have just Googled it and have added that also to my favourites.

Problem is - the CATE database also only shows two Lancashire records for S. tomentosum - both stated as Lancashire South (So they probably are the same two as showing on the NBN Gateway map).

Such is life

Regards
Mike.

[mollisia]

Hallo,

to my experience I would give a clear vote for Stereum hirsutum. I know S. subtomentosum quite well and there are three things that don't suite to my picture of S. subtomentosum:
The cap is too strongly hairy for subtomentosum, but suites perfect for hirsutum on both fotos
The marginal zone on the undersiede of S. subtomentosum is nearly always white or at least much lighter then the rest. This is the area by the way where you can observe the yellow coloration when rubbing it. On the coloured parts of the fruitbody you will hardly notice the yellowing. It correct, that old fruitbodies of S. subtomentosum become coloured to the margin, but then the upperside is "always" greenish by algae - never have seen that with S. hirsutum.
The rolled form of the fruitbodies I have never seen in S. subtomentosum, which always makes flat, half round fruitbodies with a short stipelike attachment point.

There is a third very similar species, whcih also is increasing. Not as speedy as S. subtomentosum, but nevertheless. It is in sw-Germany one of the species which indicated the progress in global warming: Stereum insignitum, now called Stereum I-dont-remember-what.
It is very similar to S. subtomentosum, but needs thermophil places and grows often on oak or hornbeam, whereas S. subtomentosum is more likely to find in damp places and often on Fagus, Salix, Fraxinus or Alnus.

here you see Stereum insignitum:





best regards,
Andreas

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks Andreas, information much appreciated, which will help me on future occasions when I find these types again.

Given all of the replies in the thread, I think I am now reasonably safe to put this one down as S. Hirsutum.

Regards
Mike.

[diggleken]

Hurrah, got one right!
Ken