Fungi for I.D.

[2dogs2000]

Don't usually bother with fungi as I know they are quite difficult to i.d. but I thought I would see if anyone can i.d. this one for me.
There were a few of them growing in a meadow.







Then I dropped it and it split open. It looked and smelt earthy.



Sorry for poor photos.

[alge]

hello 2 dogs, it looks Bovista like to me. the lack of a stem and the way it tapers to the base could suggest Bovista nigrescens but as the gleba (Brown spore filling) has turned & i would expect the outer layer to discolour too. Maybe Vascellum pratense the Meadow puffball is a better fit but the base stem on these is a little more evident than your samples.

I'm sure when the Sunday shift starts you will get a more coherent reliable answer.

Alex

[2dogs2000]

Having googled Meadow puffball I think you are spot on. When I dropped it, it split very easily and some of the contents were like dust on the floor. Even then I didn't think of puffballs. I really don't know a lot about fungi at all.

Thank you.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by alge

hello 2 dogs, it looks Bovista like to me. the lack of a stem and the way it tapers to the base could suggest Bovista nigrescens but as the gleba (Brown spore filling) has turned & i would expect the outer layer to discolour too. Maybe Vascellum pratense the Meadow puffball is a better fit but the base stem on these is a little more evident than your samples.

I'm sure when the Sunday shift starts you will get a more coherent reliable answer.

Alex

don't think it's Vascellum - can't see the distinctive diaphragm . . . but the cross-section is badly out of focus

please don't take this the wrong way (and tbf you yourself mention this), but surely posters can provide in focus images when asking for ID's? Just take loads of images and post the best . . . if you really want an accurate ID it must be worth the effort

as I have pointed out before, scanners will provide a fantastic image - you can protect the platen with some cling-film* if necessary

that said, grassland puffballs are not always straightfoward, based on macro-characters alone

cheers

Chris

* other films are available in all good shops

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

please don't take this the wrong way (and tbf you yourself mention this), but surely posters can provide in focus images when asking for ID's? Just take loads of images and post the best . . . if you really want an accurate ID it must be worth the effort

cheers

Chris

It isn't always that easy . My camera was pre the anti-shake correction, so in poor light it is always difficult, but flash is too strong and wipes out most of the detail. The camera also has a tendency to focus on things other than the fungus and it can be very difficult to get it to behave how I want even if I take loads of photos. The manual focus isn't much better either as the small bit that it enlarges on the screen isn't really big enough to tell if I've got it in focus. However it is small and does give very good/true colour.

Melanie

[lipase]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

It isn't always that easy . My camera was pre the anti-shake correction, so in poor light it is always difficult, but flash is too strong and wipes out most of the detail. The camera also has a tendency to focus on things other than the fungus and it can be very difficult to get it to behave how I want even if I take loads of photos. The manual focus isn't much better either as the small bit that it enlarges on the screen isn't really big enough to tell if I've got it in focus. However it is small and does give very good/true colour.

Melanie

If you have an optical zoom then I have found that standing a couple of meters back from the mushroom, zooming in and then using the flash works well not to wash out all the detail. This way the focus seems more likely to be better also since the focal distance has a bit more give and take if you get what I mean?

For example, if I remember correctly without looking at the exif data, this is what I have done for this mushroom (which at the moment I think is Amanita excelsa var spissa but have yet to positvely ID ). I also agree with Chris though that taking a number of photos and then selecting the best one is almost essential.

Jack

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by lipase

. . . . if I remember correctly without looking at the exif data, this is what I have done for this mushroom (which at the moment I think is Amanita excelsa var spissa but have yet to positvely ID )

Jack

hi Jack

so successful is your technique that I think I can confidently say you have Amanita rubescens there!

cheers

Chris

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

the cross-section is badly out of focus

please don't take this the wrong way (and tbf you yourself mention this), but surely posters can provide in focus images when asking for ID's? Just take loads of images and post the best . . .

as I have pointed out before, scanners will provide a fantastic image - you can protect the platen with some cling-film* if necessary


cheers

Chris

* other films are available in all good shops

No worries Chris. I know my photos leave a lot to be desired. What I should have done before I disposed of the fungi was to have checked that the photos were in focus. (Live and Learn).

I am looking at getting a new camera but they have so many functions and I struggle to get by on auto. This has made me put off buying a camera until I know what would be best for me.

Thanks for your help.

2dogs2000

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

No worries Chris. I know my photos leave a lot to be desired. What I should have done before I disposed of the fungi was to have checked that the photos were in focus. (Live and Learn).

I am looking at getting a new camera but they have so many functions and I struggle to get by on auto. This has made me put off buying a camera until I know what would be best for me.

Thanks for your help.

2dogs2000

An essential function, for photographing fungi at any rate, is the ability to stop down the exposure, otherwise details of light coloured gills or pale fungi are usually over exposed and so are lost. And of course very good macro cabability is absolutely essential .

Melanie

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

An essential function, for photographing fungi at any rate, is the ability to stop down the exposure, otherwise details of light coloured gills or pale fungi are usually over exposed and so are lost. And of course very good macro cabability is absolutely essential .

Melanie

Well that's me out of the "frame"