Small 'puffballs' on fallen trunk

[SheffieldLass]

Found yesterday, these small 'puffballs', up to 10mm dia, on a fallen, rotten tree trunk. Most of the trees are oak, but I'm not sure about this one, it was too well rotted to be sure, at least without close scrutiny.

Spore mass is pale pinky-beige. Spores are spiny, 7um dia, conical spines to 1.2um long. Capillitum is spiny, well like the spine ... rather than thorny spines.



Any ideas on these?

Melanie

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Found yesterday, these small 'puffballs', up to 10mm dia, on a fallen, rotten tree trunk. Most of the trees are oak, but I'm not sure about this one, it was too well rotted to be sure, at least without close scrutiny.

Spore mass is pale pinky-beige. Spores are spiny, 7um dia, conical spines to 1.2um long. Capillitum is spiny, well like the spine ... rather than thorny spines.



Any ideas on these?

Melanie

Hi Melanie

Are they just Lycogala epidendrum? Correct spore size and Pseudocapillitium jizz.

John

[SheffieldLass]

Thanks, I was wondering if they were one of those myxomycetes, but a quick check suggested that they were generally smaller. So rather than wasting days looking down the wrong route I'd thought I'd ask the experts first!

You are right, spot on. But my brief search was useful, I did get to identify a yellow myxomycete that I found a week ago, so I'm bit by bit learning them, and learning to recognise them.

Melanie

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Thanks, I was wondering if they were one of those myxomycetes, but a quick check suggested that they were generally smaller. So rather than wasting days looking down the wrong route I'd thought I'd ask the experts first!

You are right, spot on. But my brief search was useful, I did get to identify a yellow myxomycete that I found a week ago, so I'm bit by bit learning them, and learning to recognise them.

Melanie

Hi Melanie.

Your image of the Pseudocapillitium is excellent. I must admit, I do have a liking for the myxo's

Can I ask what you use to capture the scope images? They are very good indeed!

John

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Melanie.

Your image of the Pseudocapillitium is excellent. I must admit, I do have a liking for the myxo's

Can I ask what you use to capture the scope images? They are very good indeed!

John

Yes, it is the DCM130 1.3M pixels from Brunel microscopes. I've been really pleased with it.

And I thought these pseudocapillitia ( I presume that is the plural), from those last week were pretty neat ...



Melanie

[solus]

Sorry to hijack your topic Melanie but are these tiny puffball-things Lycogala sp. too? Photographed on 25th February on a rotten fallen deciduous tree trunk on Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. They looked like rabbit droppings!

I (with the aid of Jordan) thought they might be Lycogala terrestre because the spore mass that puffed out when I poked them with a stick was pale - sort of pinky-buff?

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

Yes, it is the DCM130 1.3M pixels from Brunel microscopes. I've been really pleased with it.

And I thought these pseudocapillitia ( I presume that is the plural), from those last week were pretty neat ...



Melanie

Hi Melanie and thanks. Yes, that's an excellent image too!

John

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by solus

Sorry to hijack your topic Melanie but are these tiny puffball-things Lycogala sp. too? Photographed on 25th February on a rotten fallen deciduous tree trunk on Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. They looked like rabbit droppings!

I (with the aid of Jordan) thought they might be Lycogala terrestre because the spore mass that puffed out when I poked them with a stick was pale - sort of pinky-buff?

That's not a hijack, that's catching the same bus ...

They are dead ringers of mine. I guess it all comes down the microscopic details to get to decide which Lycogala it is. Jordan says that L terrestre spores are ridged, mine were definitely spined rather than ridged.

It looks as if I'm going to have to get some literature on these too, I know nothing about them. I do know someone who was really into them, so he can probably advise me on the best resources. Or maybe I could be cheeky and just trot round to his house and use his books, or expertise, he's only 1/4 mile away ...

Melanie

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by solus

Sorry to hijack your topic Melanie but are these tiny puffball-things Lycogala sp. too? Photographed on 25th February on a rotten fallen deciduous tree trunk on Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire. They looked like rabbit droppings!

I (with the aid of Jordan) thought they might be Lycogala terrestre because the spore mass that puffed out when I poked them with a stick was pale - sort of pinky-buff?

Yes! one and the same!

John

[kiltoncomp]

not sure if ive got this right but does L.terrestre has pinkish spores while L.epidendrum has grey spores ???

Brian.