Fluffy bump

[jonbem]

Hi
this fluffy bump was on a fallen fence post, so any tree ID is random, but edge of pine plantation. approx 3cm across, 2cm high
appreciate thoughts.
Jon

[fairplay]

This is the same as Andreas spoke about earlier.

Although it does look like it may be a slime mould, I am certain this is the asexual stage of Oligoporus ptychogaster, called Ptychogaster albidus, but to be honest, I don't think I could reliably tell one stage from the other - perhaps Andreas has some good photos he could show us ?

Neil.

[mollisia]

Hello,

yepp, this is Ptychogaster albidus again.
I have fotos of the anamorph, which is quite common in most areas with conifer wood, but I have no foto of the teleomorph. The perfect stage (teleomorph) is a polypore quite similar to Oligoporus stypticus (= SPongiporus st. = Postia st. = Tyromyces st.). It is very very rare and I have never come across it and I have never met one who has come across it ...

But be careful, it might happen that another species of Oligoporus-Spongiporus-Postia in perfect stage occurs on the very same trunc as the imperfect Ptychogaster - and they still don't belong together! In my area often Spongiporus guttulatus and Ptychogaster albidus grow on the same trunc. But they do not belong to each other! Spongiporus guttulatus is said to have no anamorph, but last year I found it! It is new to science that this species also has a Ptychogaster-anamorph! And as Sp. guttulatus has in young stage rose coloured margin, it was not surprising that the Ptychogaster-anamorph also is rose coloured! Here is a picture of this, were you can see the rose coloured Ptychogaster and the (old) teleomorph Spongiporus guttulatus.



best regards,
Andreas

best regards,
Andreas

[fairplay]

Thanks for this information Andreas, there is an English saying "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water" (another Shark appears)

I thought I knew all there was to know about this strange fungus, how wrong I was !

Neil.