Anthracobia species on burnt scots pine

[FungiJohn]

Hello all

Les and I visited Holborn wood near Sherwood at the weekend.

In a mixed woodland area (but with beech prominent) we came across several trees, where vandals had attempted to set them alight.

Pholiota highlandensis was found at the base of two beech trees damaged by fire and a species of Anthracobia at the base of a burnt scots pine.

Under the scope I’m having great difficulty in looking at the hairs in order to decide between A. macrocystis and A melaloma.

Has anyone experience of this species microscopically ?







I wish we had a microscopy forum

Any help, as always much appreciated

John & Les

[fairplay]

Hi John,

Strangely I cannot find Anthracobia mentioned in Ellis & Ellis, so have to rely on B&K Vol.1.

Problem is there is nothing obvious in photo 1 or 2 which indicates (to me !) which one you have, the paraphyses could belong to any of the 3 illustrated in the book and the 2 oil drops in the spores only confirm you do have Anthracobia.

If photo No.3 are the hair tufts then it looks like they have been photographed end on, instead of sideways, and I cannot make sense of it.

Sorry John - I'm a failure.

Neil.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Hi John,

Strangely I cannot find Anthracobia mentioned in Ellis & Ellis, so have to rely on B&K Vol.1.

Problem is there is nothing obvious in photo 1 or 2 which indicates (to me !) which one you have, the paraphyses could belong to any of the 3 illustrated in the book and the 2 oil drops in the spores only confirm you do have Anthracobia.

If photo No.3 are the hair tufts then it looks like they have been photographed end on, instead of sideways, and I cannot make sense of it.

Sorry John - I'm a failure.

Neil.

Hi Neil

Anthracobia is mentioned on page 52 of Ellis and Ellis. with A. melaloma often found during the winter months.

I suspect it is my poor technique in not preparing a good slide to see clearly the hairs.

Rest assured Neil, you are definately not a failure in my book

I'll have another go once I've washed a few slides and the tea dishes

John

[Ditiola]

John
What books are you using?

Nordic Macromyces Vol.1 says:

A.macrocystis "Apothecia with reddish orange hymenium, Paraphyses staining green in Melzers"

A.melaloma "Apothecia with greyish brown, yellowish or ochraceous hymenium, Paraphyes not staining green in Melzers"

Dennis says:
A.melaloma occurs July to January, and has hairs up to 110 microns long A,macrocystis occurs July to October (although I find seasons of fruiting can often be misleading) and has hairs up to 70 microns long but most are 25 microns long.

There is a close up of the edge of the disc of A.melaloma in the Mycokey photos:

There is also a key to British species by Spooner and Legon, in 'The Mycologist Vol. 12 (1) p.34 including a new species to Britain A.subatra this is described and illustrated on p.33 (although this is dark grey-black). There is also A.unicata, and A.maurilabra.

They say:
A.macrocystis has inconspicuous thin-walled hairs often colapsing on drying 40-60 x 5-20 microns. Spores 16-22 (-25) x 8-10 (-11)
A.melaloma has conspicuous marginal hairs remaining well presered on drying 40-120 x 3-10. Spores 14-17 x 7-9 microns.

Peter

[FungiJohn]

Hi Peter

I've just used FoS and Ellis & Ellis

Here is the species in situ



It was more orange ... honest

It's getting the hairs on slide to measure that's difficult for me No Melzers either

John

[fairplay]

I found it - silly me, when I read that you found Anthracobia at the base of burnt Scots Pine, I went to E&E on Land Plants, but now I realise it's in the 'Miscellaneous' book.

It's now 10 o'clock - news time and also time I fried up my sirloin steak and put the potatoes on.

Neil.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by fairplay

I found it - silly me, when I read that you found Anthracobia at the base of burnt Scots Pine, I went to E&E on Land Plants, but now I realise it's in the 'Miscellaneous' book.

It's now 10 o'clock - news time and also time I fried up my sirloin steak and put the potatoes on.

Neil.

Enjoy!

[Ditiola]

John
There is also a description and photo of A,macrocystis in 'Profiles of Fungi. 'The Mycologist Vol 8 (3) p.107. by Spooner and Yao

They say: This species is charachterised by inconspicous, thin walled hairs which readily collapse when dried, and variable ascospore shape.

British collections have been sometimes misidentified as A.melaloma which has smaller ellipsoid spores. A.macrocystis is therefore more frequent than records indicate.

Peter

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by Ditiola

John
There is also a description and photo of A,macrocystis in 'Profiles of Fungi. 'The Mycologist Vol 8 (3) p.107. by Spooner and Yao

They say: This species is charachterised by inconspicous, thin walled hairs which readily collapse when dried, and variable ascospore shape.

British collections have been sometimes misidentified as A.melaloma which has smaller ellipsoid spores. A.macrocystis is therefore more frequent than records indicate.

Peter

Hi Peter and many thanks for this.

I come across Anthracobia quite often so it would be useful to crack this one!

I'll check further and possibly send some to Kew

John

[Ditiola]

John
If you say it was orange I believe you

The very fact that you are having dificulty in locating the hairs sugests: A,macrocystis.


It seems lot's of Mycologists have had problems with this genus in the past leading to lots of misidentifications, it will therefore be pointless trying to mach you specimens to any other photos.

Still you will have plenty of time for a challenge while there is not much other fungi about

Peter