Cordyceps ophioglossoides parasitising Elaphomyces granulatus

[Lancashire Lad]

Following the identification & comments by Andreas, (much appreciated as always ), of my find of Cordyceps ophioglossoides on Sunday, I decided to return to the site to see if I could dig up specimens actually attached to the Elaphomyces granulatus, on which the C.ophioglossoides are parasitic.

This was, as Andreas forewarned, quite a tricky operation, requiring a slow and methodical approach. However, patience paid off, and I came away with the following photos: -

Photos 1 & 2
Cordyceps ophioglossoides as found - in situ.


Photos 3 & 4
Cordyceps ophioglossoides, attached by rhizomorphs to Elaphomyces granulatus.


Photo 5
As photo 3, but with the Elaphomyces granulatus cross sectioned.


Photo 6
As photo 3, but with both the Elaphomyces granulatus & Cordyceps ophioglossoides cross sectioned.


Andreas - I have (rightly or wrongly ) assumed that the false truffle is Elaphomyces granulatus, but would greatly appreciate if this could be confirmed/other from the photos. (Perhaps I may need to log it only as Elaphomyces sp.).

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

I would have said Elaphomyces muricatus . . .

Chris

[NickCantle]

Excellent illustration Mike. I've had Cordyceps in my neck of the woods- Elaphocordyceps capitata to be precise. Originally and naïvely thought to be E. longisegmentis (another microscope jobby to separate the two) Anyway, I did the same as you did and found the host Elaphomyces





Actually, if you see this John, please could you rename these to Elaphocordyceps capitata?

Thank you!

[kiltoncomp]

Nice finds Mike, and great pictures to illustrate them,
looks like it was well worth the effort,
your patch (or is that patches ?) is certainly delivering the goods

Brian,

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Anyway, I did the same as you did and found the host Elaphomyces

that is surely definitely muricatus, Nick?

C

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

that is surely definitely muricatus, Nick?

C

Oh yes Chris, I would have thought so.

[Lancashire Lad]

Chris / Nick - (Anyone )

Is there something I should be seeing that would differentiate between the photos of Elaphomyces granulatus and Elaphomyces muricatus.

I've just spent a few minutes browsing Bioimage website, but can't immediately see any visible differences between the two.

Bioimages has C.ophioglossoides as parasitising both, but seems to have more info regarding its parasitisation of E.muricatus

Would it be, that it is more likely to be found on E.muricatus?

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Chris / Nick - (Anyone )

Is there something I should be seeing that would differentiate between the photos of Elaphomyces granulatus and Elaphomyces muricatus.

I've just spent a few minutes browsing Bioimage website, but can't immediately see any visible differences between the two.

Bioimages has C.ophioglossoides as parasitising both, but seems to have more info regarding its parasitisation of E.muricatus

Would it be, that it is more likely to be found on E.muricatus?

Regards,
Mike.

hi Mike

looking at the relatively few Yorkshire records of ophioglossoides they are split 50/50 between the two common Elaphomyces species

there are several Elaphomyces recorded for Britain, but most are very rare and localized

in my limited experience you look at the make-up of the outer wall: marbled in muricatus and generally thinner, pale and not marbled in granulatus (there are of course micro-differences)

Nick's photo shows the marbling well as it's cut at an angle, rather than a division straight down the middle, but I think yours shows it as well

cheers

Chris

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks Chris.

Unless anyone comes back with anything different, I'll log it as E.muricatus then.

Regards,
Mike.

[mollisia]

Hello,

both of you have Elaphomyces muricatus as host and Chris is perfectly right in giving the difference: peridia in cross section marbelled in E. muricatus, uniformely cream coloured in granulatus.

best regards,
Andreas