tiny puffballs?

VixS · #1 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:04 PM

Hi

I found these today and looking at my reference books they are too small to be puffballs.

These were 0.5 -1 cm max! and there were a few scattered along a log which was covered in moss and some sort of green lichen/dust/mould?

with only the tinoest of tounches they puffed out a beige/orangey cloud of dust/spores. (this amused my daughter!

)

Any further help with ID would be appreciated.

Vix

Spyroviper · #2 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:08 PM

I will have a research for you. As far as I know, puffballs produce a brown like cloud, not an orange one.. very interesting!

**edit**

I have found something that is quite similar to what you have photographed. Which is a Myriostoma genus in the Geastraceae family. They are about 1cm in width and produce a brown/beige colored dust at the slightest touch.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to help more, but it's possible it might be part of this genus.

Chris Yeates · #3 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyroviper

I have found something that is quite similar to what you have photographed. Which is a Myriostoma genus in the Geastraceae family. They are about 1cm in width and produce a brown/beige colored dust at the slightest touch . . .

hi (and welcome to WAB

)

actually Myriostoma is nothing like this, and is certainly not 'tiny' - it is also considered to be extinct in Britain (not having been reported since 1880, I think); as an "earth star" it has radiating star-like 'arms' and a multipored central body hence its nickname the 'pepper pot'

these look like a myxomycete - probably a Lycogala; the spores of Lycogala terrestre are pinkish although macroscopically this looks rather more like L. epidendrum

cheers

Chris

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:46 PM

"these look like a myxomycete - probably a Lycogala the spores od Lycogala terrestre are pinkish although macroscopically this looks rather more like L. epidendrum"

Definitely seconded

Spyroviper · #5 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:49 PM

I guess I have a lot to learn about fungi!

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyroviper

I guess I have a lot to learn about fungi!

That's not a bad thing

Stick on WAB, it's an amazing source of information

NickCantle · #7 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

actually Myriostoma is nothing like this, and is certainly not 'tiny' - it is also considered to be extinct in Britain (not having been reported since 1880, I think); as an "earth star" it has radiating star-like 'arms' and a multipored central body hence its nickname the 'pepper pot'

The 2006 find of Myriostoma coliforme near Ipswich, Suffolk must've slipped your mind then Chris

Chris Yeates · #8 (**permalink**) 15-03-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

The 2006 find of Myriostoma coliforme near Ipswich, Suffolk must've slipped your mind then Chris

oh . . . do we have to count East Anglia as Britain now? - that's just political correctness gone mad

C

VixS · #9 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 02:07 PM

Thanx for all the replies, though I am still unsure what these are as the follow-up research on each of your suggestions doesn't really sound right to what I saw... I may have to write this one off and learn to take more details next time round

Thanx anyway!

Vix
xxx

NickCantle · #10 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:35 PM

99% sure of Lycogala epidendrum that have faded with age. When young, the spore cloud you describe is a gooey, oily liquid with a bright orange hue. With age, the mass of sludge transforms into the eventual cloudy mass of spores that help the species distribute itself.