Strange Scleroderma

waynehicks1 · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2011, 02:30 PM

I recently found this specimen which immediately caught me eye due to it's strange pigmentation. I've searched the cyberweb for similar images but haven't had any luck. Could this just be a washed out Scleroderma verrucosum, having lost some of it's scales due to heavy rain, or is this a different species altogether?

I found it growing on a woodland path, with plenty of oak and sweet chestnut around.

Many thanks

Wayne

fairplay · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2011, 04:34 PM

The last time we had an unusual patterned Earth Ball, I got it wrong, so I'm going to be reluctant to try to name this even though the macroscopic details match a certain Scleroderma sp.

I think Kew would be interested in this, so start drying it now, before it begins to deteriorate.

Neil.

PS. You seem to have something interesting (perhaps not fungal) just to the left of this fungus looking like wriggly black fingers.

waynehicks1 · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2011, 06:58 PM

I did collect a sample this time Neil and I'm drying it as we speak. As for those black finger-like objects, I haven't a clue what they are and hadn't even noticed their presence until you pointed them out.

Thanks

Wayne

Ken Burgess · #4 (**permalink**) 15-09-2011, 07:20 PM

I'm not sure how much use a specimen will be to Kew if the spores are not mature.

Ken

waynehicks1 · #5 (**permalink**) 16-09-2011, 04:38 AM

Not ever having sent anything to Kew, what is the procedure, who do I address the sample to, etc? Do I accompany the sample with a short note, detailing where and when I found the sample?

Regards

Wayne

fairplay · #6 (**permalink**) 16-09-2011, 08:52 AM

As Ken has pointed out, there is not much that Kew can do with this sample as it never reached maturity - that means they will have no way of comparing it to other material kept at Kew or any other herbarium.

I was hoping the very distinctive outer markings may have enabled somebody to say straight away this is 'XX' only recorded from mainland Europe before but the problem here is that the markings on Scleroderma species can vary quite a bit as with a lot of other fungi.

So i guess this will have to remain a mystery, unless of course, there are other fruiting bodies nearby which have reached maturity.

If you google 'sending fungi to Kew' or 'fungi at Kew' this hopefully will bring up what to do.

Neil.