Unidentified Winter fungi

[mebeingme]

The definitive guide to Winter fungi would be very useful for an amateur. I understand that species are somewhat limited this time of the season. I have seen lots of Velvet Shank - a true survivor; and Jellyspot (D. stillata). I am really struggling with these two species, photographed 16.1.10. All advice would be greatly appreciated.

[fairplay]

Hello UbeingU !
Welcome to WAB.

Somebody else recently posted a similar photo on the fungi forum saying it had been positively identified as a Wood Blewitt, but I was very sceptical.
The caps could easily be W/B's but it is the gills that worry me, so I am going to say without seeing the spores under the microscope, I wouldn't like to make any judgement.

Your other specimen is also tricky, normally I would say a Tubaria sp. but yours are not showing the typical cap striations.

Sorry,
Neil.

[mebeingme]

Hi Neil,
Many thanks for yr insight. My photos are over exposed and don't reveal the cap striations. I have checked out a guide by Roger Phillips and there were def striations to marginal areas. I think this may be T.furfuracea. I have uploaded another image and if you squint you may be able to see striations to left of cap?

I thought Puffballs would be easier to identify; do you think this could be Scleroderma areolatum or is spore sample necessary?

I don't think I'll ever get an answer to suspect Wood Blewitts

Thank you again

[fairplay]

Yes, I can see faint striations and because the cap could be called 'scurfy' I will accept this could be, or most likely is, T.furfuracea.

The Earthball has thin skin and a short 'stalk', so I agree again with S.areolatum.

Neil.

[mebeingme]

'Scurfy' is a word I have not come across before; checked the fungi glossary section. I must say this is a wonderful resource - so much accessible information. Fantastic