Elaphomyces granulatus or muricatus? ID help please.

[earthdragon64]

Found yesterday morning in a mainly Birch wood near Aviemore, is Cordyceps ophioglossoides parasitising one of the Elaphomyces species. I'm not sure which, but I think it is E. muricatus.

The first photo shows them in situ;


The second photo shows the Cordyceps ophioglossoides;


The third and fourth photos show cross-sections of the Elaphomyces sp;




I'd be grateful for confirmation of which Elaphomyces species if possible from the photos. If an ID isn't possible from the photo, would it be possible with a microscope, and how would I go about doing it and what would I be looking for? A link to a website with the information will do, I don't expect a step-by-step explanation.

[Lancashire Lad]

I'm pretty sure this is E.muricatus, as it distinctly shows the marbled effect in the brownish outer layers of the cross section.

The website "http://www.natruffling.org" has a photo Gallery showing both species, where the pictures clearly show the differences in cross section between the two species.

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I'm pretty sure this is E.muricatus, as it distinctly shows the marbled effect in the brownish outer layers of the cross section.. . . Mike.

correctamundo

Chris

[earthdragon64]

Thanks very much, the pictures on that site show the differences much more clearly than any of my books. I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Cheers, Audrey.