Two for ID, pretty please! :-)

[sunnydale]

Hi all,

Found a couple of species that are new to me (I think!) and would appreciate ID's.

1.

(apologies for the above pic's rubbish quality....but I was in a very dark wood at the time!

2.


Thanks in advance,

Tracey

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi sunnydale,

You've got Glistening Inkcap - Coprinellus micaceus = (Coprinus micaceus), and Fairy Inkcap - Coprinellus disseminatus = (Coprinus disseminatus).

Regards,
Mike.

EDIT - Just seen Mal's reply below, and he's probably correct. It was the lack of mica-like scales on the caps on the second pic. that led me towards C.disseminatus, but I admit they do look large for those.

[flaxton]

Hi Tracey

No need for "pretty please" on here most of this lot love to get the opportunity to give identifications.
The first one growing on wood with the light tan cap covered in granular veil remnants is Coprinellus (Coprinus) micaceus.
The second group is I think just the same again but a bit more mature. Quick edit having seen Mikes reply I think it is too big for disseminatus.

Mal

[sunnydale]

Thanks to you both

I would never have thought they were the same species <<looks surprised>>
Would the lack of light in the wood account for the immaturity of the first one then?

T.

[flaxton]

Tracey

If they are the same(they don't have a cross your fingers Smiley) if you go back in a few days the first group will look more like the second. The fungi all go through the same maturing process and the timing may be affected in part by the lack of sunshine. With the ink caps this may mean that they rot away completely like the Lawyers Wig or less so as in C. plicatillis.

Mal

[mushruman]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong , but fungi are not plants and do not use photosynthesis to grow. Therefore the light levels won't effect their growth rate. Although the difference in temperature probably would.

[ManwithNoname]

Originally Posted by mushruman

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong , but fungi are not plants and do not use photosynthesis to grow. Therefore the light levels won't effect their growth rate. Although the difference in temperature probably would.

You are obviously correct that fungi are not plants and do not photosynthesise.

However, to infer that light levels won't affect their growth rate is another matter. If you google "effect of light on growth of basidiomycetes" you should find articles suggesting that, at the very least, "fruitbody" formation can be influenced by the presence or absence of light. So the answer is that it depends.

Consider for example Flammulina velutipes, the "fruitbodies" of which, when produced commercially, look completely different from the wild phenotype. Light is definitely one of the factors that affects the development of the basidiomata and light is therefore carefully controlled to ensure optimum cropping. Other environmental factors may also play an important role, temperature being one, as you suggest, and availability of water being another.

[ManwithNoname]

P.S. I should also point out that what we are referring to here is actually the development of the spore producing body, rather than a growth rate for the mycelium. The comparison with the effect of sunlight on the rate of photosynthesis and the growth rate of a plant is not therefore relevant. Much of the rate of development of a "mushroom" comes down to how quickly preformed hyphal cells are inflated with water.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

You are obviously correct that fungi are not plants and do not photosynthesise.

However, to infer that light levels won't affect their growth rate is another matter. If you google "effect of light on growth of basidiomycetes" you should find articles suggesting that, at the very least, "fruitbody" formation can be influenced by the presence or absence of light. So the answer is that it depends.

Consider for example Flammulina velutipes, the "fruitbodies" of which, when produced commercially, look completely different from the wild phenotype. Light is definitely one of the factors that affects the development of the basidiomata and light is therefore carefully controlled to ensure optimum cropping. Other environmental factors may also play an important role, temperature being one, as you suggest, and availability of water being another.

Very interesting info, thanks

[mushruman]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Very interesting info, thanks

Indeed, I'm glad I brought it up. I'm always willing to learn something new about mycology. Thanks ManwithNoname.