Colourful fungi found at Clumber Park

FungiJohn · #1 (**permalink**) 28-02-2009, 10:57 PM

On a very good day at Clumber, we came across this little number! Found growing on (beech) soil under decaying beech. Size approx 0.8 cm.

The striking blue coloured base contrasted well with the yellow cup. First thoughts are ditiola pezizaeformis.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

John

cybershot · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:16 AM

What an extraordinary and lovely find John. I have found an FOS reference to Femsjonia pezizaformis, which taxonomically I believe is a synonym for Ditiola pezizaeformis and it seems to fit the macroscopic features of your find, though the blueing seems to be an extra aesthetic bonus in your case. Habitat is given as "On dead wood of Abies, as well as various broadleaved trees, usually on the upper side of fallen branches still with bark. Summer-fall. Rare."

Nice one !
David

mollisia · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Hallo John,

I think that these are young fruitbodies of Caloscypha fulgens.
Usually this species is more orange then yellow, but may be it is due to missing sunlight or some colour variation (as in Sarcoscypha we have seen in a thread not long ago). The strong turquoise coloration on touch and also by itself when growing strongly support this idea. May be they are still too young to see spores. But when you have at least young asci it should be evident that it is Caloscypha, as there are no other operculate ascos with these features to my knowledge.

Here is a picture of Caloscypha fulgens, growing in an Abies-Picea-forest on calcareous soil, associated with Morchella conica and Strobilurus esculentus. At this site where the foto is taken Caloscypha in reported since the 60s, but it is not fruiting every year and the amount of fruitbodies is varying drastically between only a few (< 10) and many hundreds!

best regards,
Andreas

cybershot · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 10:21 AM

A good steer Andreas and extracts from FOS on Caloscypha fulgens include:

"In broadleaf and coniferous forests on mossy ground....."
"..in our area always in the vicinity of Albies..."
"..bright yellow when fresh, more orange on drying..."
"The bright fruiting body turning green when touched and the early appearance (March - May) make this species easily recognizable even in the field"

Also an Ascomycete rather than a Heterobasidiomycete, as per the initial thoughts, which meant I should have searched a different volume as well

David

Chris Yeates · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 02:25 PM

hi

I'm glad of Andreas' comments as I really didn't think it was Ditiola, but couldn't comment further

this is a very exciting find of a species officially designated Endangered to Vulnerable

very few records on Fungal Records Database of B.I. and none further north than Norfolk; blow some spores towards Anston Stones please

the scientific name means the 'splendid beautiful cup' and I suppose Golden Cup is bearable as the "official" vernacular name

nice one

Chris

mollisia · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

this is a very exciting find of a species officially designated Endangered to Vulnerable

Hallo,

this a species which fruits (I'm allowed to say "fruits" although it is not a fruit of course?) only in some years abundant, and in the other years it is nearly absent. In those "fruiting-years" you find it in several places and because of the internet and those fungi forums this becomes even more evident than in former times. KRIEGLSTEINER has published a long article about that species and its fruiting rythms. The last good year in Germany was 2006 if I remember right.

Because of those unregular fruitings and because there is no hint on a decline all in all, we have decided to take Caloscypha fulgens down again from the Red List in Germany.

best regards,
Andreas

kiltoncomp · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

hi

I'm glad of Andreas' comments as I really didn't think it was Ditiola, but couldn't comment further

this is a very exciting find of a species officially designated Endangered to Vulnerable

very few records on Fungal Records Database of B.I. and none further north than Norfolk; blow some spores towards Anston Stones please

the scientific name means the 'splendid beautiful cup' and I suppose Golden Cup is bearable as the "official" vernacular name

nice one

Chris

Clumber seems to be producing a lot of previously unknown species just lately,
and the stig is always on the ball when they appear

Brian,

FungiJohn · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 04:35 PM

Hi all

Many thanks for your much appreciated input.

I've just had word back from Mykonik Nick:

The other thing isn't, by the look of it, Ditiola peziziformis (although I can see why you might have thought it may have been !) - I think that it is an ascomycete but have no idea what it might be - however, I can't think of anything that has that a yellow disc and that distinctive bluish colouration, so this too should be parcelled off to Kew.

Looks very interesting !
-------------------------

We did find one or two 'odd' species yesterday and the drying cabinet is working overtime

I'll upload some more when time allows .... I fear a long period peering down the scope!

I think maybe 2009 will be another year for some interesting finds!

John

SheffieldLass · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 06:05 PM

John

Very attractive fungus, it has very 'spring' colours too.

Out of interest, are the areas you are finding these interesting fungi in warm, sunny spots, or very shady and hence cold areas .... you got me out looking at Wyming Brook, which has some beech, but nothing much there of any interest. But it is north facing and higher altitude so it is cold, and recently I've noticed that I seem to be doing much better in the south-facing woodland. Maybe Ecclesall woods would be better ....

Chris

What is Roche Abbey Woodlands SSSI (also known as King's Wood) (near Maltby) like for fungi? Are there many records from there? It is ancient woodland and on the same geology as Anston Woods, and I think even better than Anston Woods in terms of wildlife interest. I think that is one I should check out ...

Melanie

FungiJohn · #10 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

John

Very attractive fungus, it has very 'spring' colours too.

Out of interest, are the areas you are finding these interesting fungi in warm, sunny spots, or very shady and hence cold areas .... you got me out looking at Wyming Brook, which has some beech, but nothing much there of any interest. But it is north facing and higher altitude so it is cold, and recently I've noticed that I seem to be doing much better in the south-facing woodland. Maybe Ecclesall woods would be better ....

Chris

What is Roche Abbey Woodlands SSSI (also known as King's Wood) (near Maltby) like for fungi? Are there many records from there? It is ancient woodland and on the same geology as Anston Woods, and I think even better than Anston Woods in terms of wildlife interest. I think that is one I should check out ...

Melanie

Hi Melanie

Clumber is very well shaded or better described 'less exposed'. If I'm just warm at Clumber on Saturday then I'll be darn cold at Longshaw Sunday!

Most of the 'productive' beech locations I would regard as 'sunny' positions purely due to their respective neighbours. Clumber is also like a huge sponge too!

Ecclesall woods would be very similar IMO

Roche Abbey is also a very good location, with Kings wood been very productive If you see Neil Barden ask him, I'm sure he will agree. Well worth a visit.

I shall be there in the spring time for the Anemone Cup - Dumontinia tuberosa. Always present during April.

You must visit !

John