A few fungi to be confirmed/identified please

[Jax2000]

Hi there Julian

1. Certainly not M. galericulata - It looks very much like Xerula (Oudimansiella) radicata- Rooting shank
2. Possibly Myceana galopus - Milking bonnet - you need to break the stipe to see if any white milk like substance is exuded.
3. Possibly Crepidotus cesatii can be confused with C. variabilis but the appearance of furry edge to the cap suggests cesatii or is the camera slightly out of focus - but to be sure you need to look at the spores - as Chris Yeates suggests.
4. I agree with 'Watsthat' it certainly looks like Lepista nuda - Wood Blewit.
5. And again i agree with 'Watsthat' as it has a stipe ring it appears to be Gymnopilus junonius - Spectacular rustgill.

Cheers

Jax

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by tawnyman

No, quite right, it's the same in astronomy, above a certain magnification you don't see more, quite the reverse, but that's more about contrast. So a thousand times should be enough then. I just took a few photos through my microscope of the gills of a mushroom I brought in from the garden. I did some better shots illuminated from below but this one caught my eye.



I was surprised to see the groups of four dots. Does anyone know what these are exactly?

julian

Those groups of 4 dots are the unique DNA binary code revealed to only the wisest of men. It's the Meaning of Life !
Err, well not quite, your microscope has focussed on the spores of that particular fungus - sticking out from each gill face will be thousands of tiny club shaped cells called 'basidia' and each basidia will have either 2 or 4 cells attached, according to that particular species.

Most, as in your case, are 4 spored and when ripe, fall by gravity to be picked up in the wind for dispersal.

Neil.

[tawnyman]

Thanks for the info Neil, and nice to know I can at least see the spores with my 'scope. I shall certainly do more of that.
Jax, I think it's more of case of being slightly out of focus with the crepidotus but thanks for the info. The first fungi was not at all slimy on the cap which makes me wonder if it is Xerula. The wrinkling certainly resembles Xerula more though. Thanks for your comments.