Melogramma spiniferum

[RobSutton]

A job for Chris I think -

found this growing down at the base of an upturned beech tree at Malham Tarn:



It had very distinctive ascospores with 7 septa, distinctive hyaline cells at each end, that averaged out at about 70 microns in length:



Using FoS and Ellis and Ellis I came up with Melogramma spiniferum, checking the CABI records data base I struggled to find it at first but eventually tied it down as now being called Melanamphora spinifera rathr than Melogramma but noticed that there were a number of other Melogramma listed as well. Have I got the right one and is the correct name now Melanamphora? It does't seem to be very well recorded according to the NBN Gateway data for a species Ellis and Ellis say is common.

I also found this other nice looking but tiny (each cup was about 0.2mm or less) thing growing on a windblown branch from a beech. Unfortunately it's not sporulating at the moment so haven't been able to take it anywhere name wise yet, any clues about this one?



Thanks as per usual for any help.

[SheffieldLass]

Well, yours matches mine that I have called Melogramma spiniferum which the BMS recorder translates into Melanamphora spinifera . So hopefully we are right.

AscoFrance only shows one Melogramma, M campylosporum (=bulliardii), and that has different spores, so not that.

I suspect it isn't often recorded because it is one of those black blobs, but with those very distinctive spores it is very easy to spot should one appear in a micro squash.

Melanie

[Chris Yeates]

you're both right - and I'm quite envious! It's well illustrated in FOS volume 1, plate 370.

Melanie's was the first Yorkshire record - followed quite soon by Rob's

I find it interesting that this very distinctive fungus hadn't been recorded for the county before - the 'pyrenomycetes' were collected extensively during the 1930s - 1950s -despite Melanie's disparaging 'black blobs' slur! (and I don't think I've overlooked any records)

Chris

edit the second fungus is a species of Merismodes; with a growth form like that it could be Merismodes fasciculata (Schwein.) Earle (check out the author Melanie!) but you do really need to do the microscopy

despite its appearance, it's an agaric . . . .

[RobSutton]

Thanks (again) Melanie and Chris - I always have this worry with the ascos that there are species other than those in Fungi of Switzerland or Ellis and Ellis that I don't know about. I've not come across AscoFrance - will have to have a look at it.

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

edit the second fungus is a species of Merismodes; with a growth form like that it could be Merismodes fasciculata (Schwein.) Earle (check out the author Melanie!) but you do really need to do the microscopy

despite its appearance, it's an agaric . . . .

... and then there is the other problem of not being able to tell me ascos from me agarics - doh It would explain why I couldn't find any ascospores!

[SheffieldLass]

This takes you to their search page.
ASCOfrance

Type in the genus in 'genre' or use the pull down list, click 'valider' and a list of the species that they have photos of will appear. Quite a few have micro photos. It is useful as a double check.

Melanie

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

This takes you to their search page.
ASCOfrance

Type in the genus in 'genre' or use the pull down list, click 'valider' and a list of the species that they have photos of will appear. Quite a few have micro photos. It is useful as a double check.

Melanie

Merci je vais jeter un oeil à ce site Web plus tard