Unknown Bracket on Sycamore

RobSutton · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Found this growing on a moss covered log of what I think is sycamore. The most striking feature was the fact that the pores bruised blue.

I haven't managed to get any spores of it and the microscopy of the tubes hasn't been very successful - it's very hard to make out very much apart from a few hyphae, no obvious basidia or cystidia.

Any ideas anyone?

mollisia · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 09:35 PM

Hello Rob,

they really bruised blue when you touched them? Or were they yet blue discoloured when you found it?

best regards,
Andreas

fairplay · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 09:37 PM

Tentatively, I would say Postia subcaesia, but I may be wrong here.

Neil.

RobSutton · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello Rob,

they really bruised blue when you touched them? Or were they yet blue discoloured when you found it?

best regards,
Andreas

The blue patch on the upturned specimen in the top photo is where my finger grasped it as I removed it from the tree stump. I was very suprised so I tried it again on another piece and it took quite a firm pressure but the colour change is real.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

Tentatively, I would say Postia subcaesia, but I may be wrong here.

Neil.

I did't think it was P.subcaesia, on specimens I've seen the blue seem to occurs on the upper surface rather than on the pores.

I did wonder if it was an odd Bjerkandera adjusta at first but the cross section shown on the top left on the main specimen didn't look right - white pores and pale brown upper layer.

fairplay · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 09:53 PM

Yes, I think I was too hasty in retrospect, you may have something a bit special here.

Neil.

RobSutton · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

Yes, I think I was too hasty in retrospect, you may have something a bit special here.

Neil.

Thanks Neil - it's quite a frustrating one as it doesn't want to release any spores and I'm finding it hard to get any good microscopic features at all to look at.

mollisia · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 09:54 AM

Hello,

those brackets only sporulate a few weeks in the year - your chance to gather it during this periode is not too good. If it doesn't sporulate, then you also will find no basidia or hymenium layer in the microscope. That's why I don't like those ....

Can you give some more information on this one? Was it hard or somewhat spongy? How was its size? Did it grow in large amount or was it only thos fruitbodies you picture? Smell?

Very strange nevertheless, I have never heared of a blueing polypore ....

best regards,
Andreas

fairplay · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 10:51 AM

............ and on Sycamore (maybe) too - not a very productive fungus tree in Britain in my opinion.

Is it possible that when Bjerkander adusta grows on a different host, different chemicals are absorbed ?
But I have surely seen ordinary B.adusta on Sycamore before, so this would be a very extreme reaction.

If there are no spores and therefor no sexual cells, then I'm not sure if Kew could tell you any more, but I would still send this to them (with wood still attached if possible) as it is certainly of scientific interest.

Neil.

RobSutton · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 04:23 PM

Hi Andreas

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollisia

......

Can you give some more information on this one? Was it hard or somewhat spongy? How was its size? Did it grow in large amount or was it only thos fruitbodies you picture? Smell?

Very strange nevertheless, I have never heared of a blueing polypore ....

best regards,
Andreas

This specimen was about 30mm x 17mm, In cross section about 5mm deep. At the point of attachment about 15mm. The texture I can best describe as like a soft cork and it didn't have any really distinctive smell. There were quite a few clumps on this particular log - some were more tiered than these ones. The bruised sections have turned more of a yellowish brown but still with a blue grey tinge in places.

I will see if I can a few more photographs of some of the younger stages.

Thanks for your input as always.

diggleken · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009, 04:48 PM

Hi Rob and everyone, I had a slightly similar strange experience with a postia caesia (subcaesia) last week - only a small specimen on a small branch, but not only was the upper surface blueing, the pores seemed to be discharging blue material - I just put it down as the blue coming through and showing with the spores because of the very wet weather - it was soaking.
Perhaps they do blue underneath if wet enough, when sporulating only, so not previously noticed?
I throw this in as a discussion point, totally non-scientific!
Cheers
Ken
Pic of pores of that specimen.