mahogany coloured fungus with domes

[Doothea]

It is about the size and shape of half a tennis ball: studded with little onion-domes (like the ones on geastraceae) which end in a fine stalk, partly coiled into a spring. It is dark brown and slightly shiny: like a piece of mahogany or chocolate.

It's growing in a raised flower bed, built up round two very old blackthorn trees (now sadly inclined to lose limbs in severe storms) The bed was here when I moved into the house five years ago: the fungus is new. 15 June 2010 was the first time I've seen it. I have recently (last autumn) spread the bed with bark chips round the few plants that can be persuaded to grow in it - mainly cyclamen, bluebells, crocus and snakes head fritillary.

Yes, it is bizarre and alien and yes, it's rather handsome, even to a fungus-phobic person like myself. (and no, I have no intention of eating it) I've searched books and the internet and can't see it, or anything like it.

[flaxton]

Hi
Welcolm to WAB. Any chance of a photo?

Mal

[Doothea]

I don't have one yet - hope to arrange it tomorrow. By the way, I've just looked at it again, and its not as big as I thought - the whole thing is about the size of half a tennis ball; and there are more than a dozen little domes more like 2 dozen.

[Doothea]

Have posted image to unknown fungus page. Am ashamed of poor quality but none of us have proper cameras.

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi Doothea,



I'm certainly no expert with fungi, having only been looking at thenm for about 2 years, but I can honestly say that I've never seen (even in photos or on the internet), anything like your specimen. - Are you sure it is definitely a fungus?

I've taken the liberty of copying your images across to this thread to make it easier for the more expert fungi people to find them.

Whatever it is, I am very intrigued by it, and hope that you get a definitive ID.

Best regards,
Mike.

[JennyS]

Maybe transfer to the Gardening or Wildflower section as I'm pretty certain that's a Cyclamen!

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Maybe transfer to the Gardening or Wildflower section as I'm pretty certain that's a Cyclamen!

I hadn't got down to your post Jenny - that was my thought as well - definitely not fungal

that's why they are called Cyclamen after all, due to the coiling of the fruiting pedicels . . .

Chris

[solus]

Yup, Cyclamen! Come the autumn/winter you will suddenly notice some pretty pink flowers, followed by green leaves a bit later. Brighten up the dull months in the garden no end, do Cyclamen. They seem to seed themselves around too and are no trouble.

[Doothea]

How embarrassing!!!! but I'm glad it doesnt mean my blackthorns are sick.
There are cyclamen - spring and autumn - I've never seen them in that phase.
Thank you very much.