Unidentified Fungi

[davedotcom]

Good morning,

Yesterday when I was working in the garden I found two fungi that I'm hoping someone can identify:

From my untrained eye I guessing that this one is fairly common - I'm sure I've seen these on the lawn before although I'm sure that there are lots of varieties!



This one I have never seen before. In case the colours haven't come up well it is a white and purple colour.



Thanks very much!

[davedotcom]

Forgot to mention that the second one is growing on the shaded side of a Hawthorn tree stump.

Not sure whether that snippet of info helps in any way?!

[flaxton]

The first is Scleroderma citrinum one of the Earth Balls which if you cut one in half it should be black inside a quite thick skin. The second is I think Chondrostereum purpureum which often grows on plants of the Rosaceae family.

Mal

[davedotcom]

Many thanks flaxton

My concern around the Chondrostereum purpureum was that my garden pond goes right up to the tree stump under where this is growing, and I think I have a couple of frogs hibernating in the stump (albeit the hole is on the opposite side).

However, after doing some googling it appears that there's nothing to be worried about and it is not toxic, so I shall let it be!

[fairplay]

Hmmm, that's a new twist on people being worried about fungi poisoning their pets or kids
I'm quite confident amphibians, in fact nearly all wild creatures, know what is good for them and what isn't. I even have a photo somewhere of a frog sat on a large Death Cap fungus looking perfectly happy.

Neil.

[davedotcom]

Yeah, I'm a bit soft when it comes to the frogs. I've only had the pond a year and am a complete newbie so I'm constantly wondering if things are ok. Need to just let them get on with it!