Fungus on silage bales

Morchella · #1 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 10:11 PM

Think these might be Schizophyllum commune having done a bit of investigation into what might grow on a silage bale. Unfortunately couldn't get very close so photos taken with zoom and not very well focussed.

Laura

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 09:01 AM

Hi Laura,
only just noticed this!
It does , without a clear photo, have the resemblance of split gill.
Cheers
Ken

Ditiola · #3 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 05:58 PM

Hi Laura

Definitely Split Gill. Plastic wrapped silage bales have become a main habitat for this fungus since around 1990. When growing on bales it does tend to grow more in clumps that when on its previous only habitat dead wood.

Peter

fairplay · #4 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 06:07 PM

I echo all what Peter say's except I would prefer to say 'most likely' instead of 'definitely' as not only do we have no microscopic evidence, but also no ID from a blurred photo, so it's as good as dammit !

Neil.

diggleken · #5 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

I echo all what Peter say's except I would prefer to say 'most likely' instead of 'definitely' as not only do we have no microscopic evidence, but also no ID from a blurred photo, so it's as good as dammit !

Neil.

Quite.
That is exactly right Neil.
Cheers
Ken

Ditiola · #6 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 10:28 PM

OK I agree we cannot be 100% definite without a close up photo or checking microscopically, however I have observed Schizophyllum commune on plastic wrapped silage bales at three local sites over the last four years and I have now seen several hundred fruit bodies on this habitat. They have a distinctive growth habit when growing on plastic bales, and this is so distinctive I believe it can be recognised even on out of focus pictures. Along with an absence of other candidates that will grow on this habit and with this ditinctive appearance I think I can re grade my certainty from definite to a 99.9 % sure.

I also keep finding Schizophyllum amplum, Three sites around Derby now!,
I found it again yesterday in a different area at one of these sites. I think it may be more common than is recognised. When dried out it can look like Trametes, and when fresh from above it can look like Crepidotus. Best keep a look-out for it.

Peter