Orange & Lemon (Fungi) - ID Help Please

Lancashire Lad · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 07:03 PM

Found several loosely scattered troups of these two tiny but brightly coloured fungi today.
All growing amongst leaf-litter/moss in a mixed woodland.

Initial thoughts were that these first ones were Rickenella fibula, but they are a much more vibrant orange than any R.fibula found to date.

They all appeared to be growing directly from soil. Cap size about 0.3-0.6cm. Stipe heights 40mm (largest).

I'm thinking these second ones might be Hygrocybe vitellina, but not at all sure.

Again, growing directly from soil amongst moss. Cap sizes about 0.3-0.6cm. Stipe heights between 15 & 30mm.

ID confirmations/other, would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Mike.

Chris Yeates · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 07:14 PM

hi Mike

fibula without a doubt (you can just about make out the cap cystidia) - it's the moss it's growing on

as to H. vitellina, I would expect the gills to be decurrent - they don't appear to be or is that the angle at which they were photographed?

cheers

Chris

Lancashire Lad · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

....as to H. vitellina, I would expect the gills to be decurrent - they don't appear to be or is that the angle at which they were photographed?....

Thanks Chris.

No - The gills on the yellow fungi weren't decurrent. I would best describe them as adnate? - (Something like the shape of those on Marasmius rotula)

I can't find anything that looks similar to these in the books I have. (if not H.vitellina).

Would you think I'm in the right area with Hygrocybe? (The caps & stipes were very viscid & sticky, and very fragile).

Regards,
Mike.

Lancashire Lad · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 10:01 PM

Chris - I have been browsing for images on several sites, and am now as certain as I can be that the yellow fungi are Hygrocybe vitellina.

The information, & some of the images on Bioimages site give me confidence that H.vitellina is correct.

I am pretty sure that the ones I found must be fairly recently emerged, and have are not yet showing all the macro signs that fully mature specimens would. - Hence the gills are not yet being decurrent.

Regards,
Mike.

NickCantle · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 10:48 PM

I'd be chuffed with Hygrocybe vitellina

Lancashire Lad · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

....I am pretty sure that the ones I found must be fairly recently emerged, and have are not yet showing all the macro signs that fully mature specimens would. - Hence the gills are not yet being decurrent....

Just re-read this

Reading it back reminds me of a badly translated instruction manual.

(The pitfalls of word processing - too easy to change things, and just as easy to make nonsense when you don't properly read what you've changed).

It should have read "fairly recently emerged, and are not yet showing all the macro signs that fully mature specimens would. - Hence the gills not yet being decurrent".

Regards,
Mike.

ManwithNoname · #7 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I am pretty sure that the ones I found must be fairly recently emerged, and have are not yet showing all the macro signs that fully mature specimens would. - Hence the gills are not yet being decurrent.

Interestingly, Mike, it's at exactly this stage that you should be able to confirm H. vitellina in the field - when it is young and fresh. The only character you can use in the field to positively distinguish it from other similar looking taxa is the viscid gill edge, which can be seen with a hand lens. Once the mushrooms have matured and dried out a bit, you can't see this important feature in the field, although you may be able to make it out microscopically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Chris - I have been browsing for images on several sites, and am now as certain as I can be that the yellow fungi are Hygrocybe vitellina.

You just need to be a bit wary of relying on images on websites for identifying waxcaps. Many names given to finds prior to up-to-date literature such as Boertmann's "The Genus Hygrocybe" were incorrect, even in popular field guides. No doubt some specimens were properly identified based on microscopic details, but it's not always possible to be sure from the information on a website. The photographer might have got their identification wrong based on other incorrect images on the web.

I assume from the images that your specimens had viscid cap and stem, so H. vitellina is a strong contender but, based on the information in the photos, I wouldn't be sure. How, for example, would you rule out H. glutinipes which can have a yellow, viscid cap and stem, and broadly adnate to subdecurrent gills?

Lancashire Lad · #8 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 06:25 PM

Hi ManwithNoname,

Thanks for the reply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

....The only character you can use in the field to positively distinguish it from other similar looking taxa is the viscid gill edge....

After reading the above, I returned to the site this afternoon, armed with my 10x hand lens, and hopefully, knowing what to look for.
I am hoping that you are referring to the lower edge of the gills, (running from stipe to margin), as this is what I looked at.
After a little fumbling, to get the fungus in a good position to examine, I can confirm that yes, under the lens, these fungi do have a viscid edge to the gills.
(If I have learned one thing today, it is that I need a pair of tweezers. - These sticky little fungi just don't want to play ball when you are using fingers to try to get them correctly orientated to view specific parts).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

....I assume from the images that your specimens had viscid cap and stem, so H. vitellina is a strong contender but, based on the information in the photos, I wouldn't be sure....

Yes, they were very viscid/sticky, all over the caps and stipes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

....How, for example, would you rule out H. glutinipes which can have a yellow, viscid cap and stem, and broadly adnate to subdecurrent gills?

My limited knowledge trips me up yet again.

I had searched my books and online for "visibly" similar looking fungi, but hadn't found anything that I considered a possibility.
I (perhaps wrongly) ruled out H.glutinipes on the basis of Jordan's description, which states that they have a steeply decurrent tooth to the gills, and none of the ones I found have that. (I looked at several more specimens today, and none have these decurrent gill teeth).

With the viscid gills, would you think it now safe to stick with H.vitellina?

Regards,
Mike.

ManwithNoname · #9 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

With the viscid gills, would you think it now safe to stick with H.vitellina?

It can be tricky to spot the transparent gill edge until you get the gill at the right angle to the light. With the other characters you have noted, this can only be H. vitellina.

Lancashire Lad · #10 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

It can be tricky to spot the transparent gill edge until you get the gill at the right angle to the light. With the other characters you have noted, this can only be H. vitellina.

Thanks ManwithNoname, much appreciated.
These posts have been very helpful, and I think I have this one well and truly down now, for the next time I find, and need to identify it again.

Regards,
Mike.