mystery fungi bolete and ?

[diggleken]

these two were in a pine wood last week - one appears to be a boletus, cracking, growing out of a stump (!) which is nearly certain to be corsican pine, the other is puzzling me like mad - I know it, but the memory and pics in the books just wont do it - grateful for any help to put me out of my misery! Felty top, sorry no other info (big apologies...........) but looks fairly daignostic for genus at any rate?
sorry, edit, the second one in meadow, not in a wood, as you can see!

This last one was I think Postia caesia, nicely blue on top - this pores shot was taken cos there were bites of pore and other parts falling off, not well attached at all, quite strange.
Any ideas on that?
Cheers
Ken

[flaxton]

The first looks like Boletus badius and I know that shouldn't be growing out of wood but I found Tylopilus felleus growing on wood this year and I can find no mention of that either
The second might be a Cystoderma.

Mal

[NickCantle]

Well done Ken, the second more 'golden' fungus is none other than the rather rare Phaeolepiota aurea

[flaxton]

An ex Cystoderma

Mal

[diggleken]

Dont worry mal, a cystoderma was on my mind too............
Golden Bootleg, Phaeolepiota aurea - oh heck, BRILLIANT thanks a lot Nick (thought it was one of your jokes at first!) - yes looking at features in on line shots, its that, that cap and stem is quite diagnostic.
Well chuffed.
Cheers both
Ken

[Ken Burgess]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Well done Ken, the second more 'golden' fungus is none other than the rather rare Phaeolepiota aurea

Just a couple of thoughts. Phaeolepiota aurea would have a membranous partial veil leaving a distinctive ring on the stem. It also tends to be more of woodland species. And by the time the cap flattens out it tends to be very large.

These specimens were growing in grassland, there's no real evidence of a big floppy ring, and they look quite small, judging by the surrounding vegetation.

Cystoderma e.g. C. amianthinum would be in grassland, wouldn't have a large floppy ring and would be on the small side. (And the colour and texture of the cap might otherwise suggest Phaeolepiota if you didn't really have strong evidence on other important characters.)

Just some thoughts.

Ken

[NickCantle]

I found mine in the open (30ft from Pines) growing in nettles and through gravel. I was basing my suggestion on the size (which if Ken could indicate, the mystery may be solved ) and the habitat. All points noted cheers Ken, I'm losing my touch ...but I add more than happy to be corrected and questioned by you lot

[Ken Burgess]

Interestingly the Basidiomycota Checklist says for Phaeolepiota aurea:

Habitat: On nitrogenous soil in parks, gardens, cemeteries, woodland, riverbanks and rarely in grassland.

Nettles are usually an indication of high nitrogen content in the soil, so that would seem an appropriate habitat, but it isn't really a grassland species.

I'll come of the fence and say I'm with Mal on this one. The jizz says Cystoderma to me, and C. amianthinum would be a good bet, although you can't tell this apart from the less common C. jasonis without microscopy.

At the stage the 'fruitbodies' have reached I think Ken would have been impressed by their outstanding size if it had been Phaeolepiota aurea.

Ken

[NickCantle]

If I have indeed grossly misjudged the dimensions of said specimens then I'm certain you're correct with Cystoderma

[Ken Burgess]

So it's over to Ken for an indication of approximate dimensions.

For Cystoderma amianthinum the cap size would be in the order of 3 cm up to a maximum of about 5 cm in diameter.

For Phaeolepiota aurea, a typical mature cap size would be 15 cm, but they can be much bigger (e.g. up to 25 cm in diameter).

Ken

PS It's good to have you back Nick. Is the broadband sorted now?