Unidentified fungus on mossy treestump

[jdal]

In an open stand of Larch and pine in Northumberland. On a moss covered treestump. About 1cm across.

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi jdal, and welcome to WAB.

Your fungus looks like Scurfy Twiglet - Tubaria furfuracea / Winter Twiglet - Tubaria heimalis.

Until recently treated as separate species, now generally regarded (but for how long ), as one and the same.

Regards,
Mike.

[jdal]

Cheers Mike. Is there a recommended field guide for UK fungi? I've got Frank Dobson's Lichen guide so something along those lines.

[Lancashire Lad]

The books that I would recommend to start with would be: -

Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe, (Michael Jordan) – Published by Francis Lincoln.
Mushrooms, (Roger Phillips) – Published by Macmillan.

The above two are too large for the pocket, but would be OK for carrying in a rucksack or bag. They provide similar levels of detailed information for fungi, as the Dobson book does for lichens. Both are regarded as must have’s by fungi enthusiasts.

Probably the two best (currently in print) pocket sized guides are: -

Mushrooms & Toadstools of Britain and Europe, (A.Gminder & T.bohning) – Published by A&C Black, Blacks Nature Guides.
Complete Guide to British Mushrooms & Toadstools, (P.Sterry & B.Hughes) – Published by Collins.

EDIT - One to look out for in the second hand market is the long out of print: -
Mushrooms and Toadstools Of Britain and Europe, (Courtecuisse and Duhem) - Published by Collins.

There are many more to be found, including some very expensive specialist books, but the ones mentioned are all well regarded, and will provide a good introduction to the subject.

Regards,
Mike.

[FungiJohn]

Hi jdal and welcome to WAB

The cap shape looks wrong for Tubaria to me! Can I suggest Galerina ... possibly hypnorum

John

[mollisia]

Hello,

I second Johns opinion. The colour is to yellow-orange compared to the rusty brown of Tubaria, the habitat in a mossy trunc would be very strange and the gills are much to wide separated for Tubaria.

best regards,
Andreas

[jdal]

Thanks all for the information, very helpful!

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi jdal and welcome to WAB

The cap shape looks wrong for Tubaria to me! Can I suggest Galerina ... possibly hypnorum

John

hi

I agree with Galerina, but would leave it there - it's a difficult genus with usually only one, two or a handful of the possible species illustrated in the popular (or even rather more specialised) books

to quote Roy Watling in BFF vol. 7:

"Although widely figured in 'mushroom books' it is rather difficult to ascertain the true identity of G. hypnorum. The concept followed herein is a small species with a hazel-centred yellow brown to brownish ochre cap, a few whitish flecks of veil when young, variable cystidia and slightly calyptrate spores with the mature spores slightly rugulose from the loosening perispore. According to Smith & Singer G. hypnorum possesses ventricose-fusoid cystidia and spores lacking a loosening perispore; this is obviously a very different fungus."

'nuff said

Chris