Unidentified fungi, grey dunes, Fife

[IanF]

Can anyone suggest possible identification for these two (or three?) species please? Seen today (14 October 2010) on grey dunes at Tentsmuir Forest, Fife. The black fungus body was strap like, rubbery with a velvet texture. Appeared to commonly grow in pairs as in the photograph. length around 2 - 3 cm
thanks
IanF

[NickCantle]

The black tongue-like one looks to be Geoglossum. I believe there are two species commonly found in Britain, but sadly they are only told apart by microscopy. The latter two are Hygrocybe conica.

Nick

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

The black tongue-like one looks to be Geoglossum. I believe there are two species commonly found in Britain, but sadly they are only told apart by microscopy. The latter two are Hygrocybe conica.

Nick

don't know about 'commonly', but there are over 15 Geoglossum sp. recorded in Britain

the Hygrocybe based on the habitat could be H. conica var. conicoides, but you need to check the spores

cheers

Chris

[SheffieldLass]

3 of the 15 UK Geoglossum that seem to be particularly associated with dunes are G cookeanum, G arenarium Geoglossum atropurpureum - the latter is often black despite its name. But there are records from dunes in the UK of Geoglossum glabrum, Geoglossum umbratile, Geoglossum nigritum, Geoglossum fallax, and maybe others.

[IanF]

Many thanks for this information, much appreciated and very helpful for me as a relative novice. Certainly points me in the right direction for further reading and research. I confess I am always somewhat reluctant to dismember any fruiting bodies to obtain the additional information required for a fuller identification, so apologies for not providing more of what you need,
Regards
IanF