A puzzle - unidentified fungus

RobSutton · #1 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 03:53 PM

No idea where to start with this. Found a couple of hours ago in leaf litter under Beech.

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:20 PM

I would say water-logged and weathered Helvella macropus. They've lost their shape but the lack of gills and the floccose appearance of the whole fruitbody are characteristic. That's my best suggestion anyway

FungiJohn · #3 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobSutton

No idea where to start with this. Found a couple of hours ago in leaf litter under Beech.

Looks like a very tired out helvella ... elastica Rob
John

FungiJohn · #4 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

I would say water-logged and weathered Helvella macropus. They've lost their shape but the lack of gills and the floccose appearance of the whole fruitbody are characteristic. That's my best suggestion anyway

OY, I was here first

It's a Helvella sp. Rob

NickCantle · #5 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:34 PM

Extract from Phillips re: Helvella macropus;

Quote:

Cup 1-4cm across, expanding and turning back on itself: Inner surface grey-brown, outer appearing pale grey due to dense covering of tufted downy hairs. Stem - Tapering upwards, often flattened or compressed; covered in tufts of grey, downy hairs

The only thing I was unsure about my ID was the fact that the cap had turned inside out (which I assumed was down to weathering or water damage) but it turns out that it's typical!

I don't think H. elastica is floccose John, at least not this much. Phillips' shows it as a completely different colour. Described as having a smooth cap too.

Nick

NickCantle · #6 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

OY, I was here first

It's a Helvella sp. Rob

P.S- I bought a coat for Clumber John

RobSutton · #7 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 06:57 PM

Thanks guys, again ............

RobSutton · #8 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009, 07:23 AM

The wind dropped a little and I managed a rather better photo and used an 18% grey card to fix the white balance so the colour is rather more accurate than in the first shot.

It seems to match Helvella macropus (in Fungi of Switzerland as Macroscyphus macropus) pretty well. Although the spores seem to be at the extreme lower limit length wise and slightly less spindle shaped (i.e. wider) than the figures quoted in that book.