ID of fungus growing on Beech

[RobSutton]

Found a fallen beech branch that had a number of these small fungi growing from cracks in the bark - they look like they've been carved from weetabix! They are only an absolute max of 2mm across, this shot was taken at a magnification of x2.5.

Unfortunately when I got a small specimen back I was unable to find any spores - only immature asci were present. Any suggestions? - the closest I could get was a Dasyscyphus sp. does this seem a likely possibility?



Thanks in advance

[cybershot]

You might find it worth investigating the possibility of Encoelia furfuracea, Rob.

Fungi on Hazle

David

[PMG]

Without being dogmatic it would seem like Ecoelia furfuracea - good find!
The pic in B & K shows it opened out and mature which doesn't (like many fungi!) look anything like the junior version! I ought to be looking for this spring species tho there are not that many places near me where hazel and alnus are allowed to stand when dead .........

Pauline

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by cybershot

You might find it worth investigating the possibility of Encoelia furfuracea, Rob.

Fungi on Hazle

David

hi Rob

I think David is correct, but I know of no British records on beech . . . could it have been on hazel or alder?

if you ever wanted a definition of the word 'furfuraceous' look no further than your photo

cheers

Chris

[VixS]

They look similar to (albeit slightly fluffier than and therefore possibly a younger example of) this example I found (which I wrongly identified due to the variety of fungi in the frame)



which was identified on this forum as Bulgaria Inquinans...



But not being an expert in this field I will leave it to the others on this forum to tell me I'm wrong again
Vix

[RobSutton]

Thanks folks, an immature Encoelia furfuracea does seem to fit the bill apart from the slightly worrying fact that I thought it was on beech. I'm pretty sure that is correct, perhaps saying I'm sure it wasn't on either Hazel or Alder would be a better way of putting it.

It was found in the woods on stabilised limestone scree/clitter around Malham Tarn which don't have Alder and which only have a very few Hazel which have been planted up recently and are still pretty young - so the bark colour doesn't really fit. Apart from Beech the other main canopy species are Ash (bark too pale for my specimen) and Sycamore (a possibility) and there are also a few "exotics" from it's days as an estate wood.

I will have to go and try and re-find the spot where I found it and see if it has developed further and check the tree species a bit more carefully - I'll let you know if I get any more info. Another valuable step on the learning curve

[RobSutton]

Sorry to resurrect this one but I found more of it in slightly better conditions yesterday.


c2mm diameter at x3 using Canon MPE-65mm macro lens

I can confirm with 100% certainty that it was on beech as I first thought - one of the fallen branches with it growing on still had an aborted beech nut case attached. I also managed to find a few mature asci and spores and they don't seem to fit Encoelia furfuracea. The spores were oval and fairly large at about 13.5-15.5µ x 7.0-7.5µ which doesn't fit any illustrations I've seen for those of Encoelia.


x1000

[PMG]

Maybe there is a variety that is host specific to beech? B & K only give hazel ash and pop .......... Maybe it would be worth sending to Kew?

Pauline

[RobSutton]

Had a look at Mycokey and came up with this as a possibility Velutarina rufo-olivacea. Any chance this could be correct, the description of it in Ellis and Ellis also seems to fit.

[mollisia]

Hallo Rob,

yes, this is very likely! I overlooked that you gave a size for your fungi, because 2 mm diam. is far to small for Encoelia furfuracea.
Velutarina rufoolivacea is usually not as brown as yours, but in spite of this it would suite good.

best regards,
Andreas