Strange white fungussy growth!

[diggleken]

Hi,
this from today, growing on a gritstone wall/bank with loads of moss, very damp and shady. Most bizarre.
It looks similar to Candlesnuff, but isnt. Nor is it bird poo!
There were only 3 bits of it, all tiny, 2cm tall max, there was no woody debris etc and it seems to be a branching fruiting body in the moss. So presumably isnt a mould on Candlesnuff?
When shaken, lots of white powder (spores?) came off, revealing a pale cream underbody, as you get with decorticated cladonia type lichens, but nothing else, no squamules etc, just the powder. powder was quite heavy and didnt disperse as light spores do.
No Lichens clearly obvious there, but maybe a mould on some remnants - or on the moss itself? Thats all I can think of.
Its got me beat - grateful for any ideas/steer, including just ignore it............
Sorry for unclear pics.

and this one with white powder shaken off:

Thanks a lot
Cheers
Ken

[mollisia]

Hello Ken,

I think this is an anamorphe of a Cordceps spec.. Look for Isaria farinosa (Paecilomyces farinosus) or may be even better Lecanicillium.

best regards,
Andreas

[diggleken]

Hello Andreas, you genius you, if you dont mind me saying so.............
Yes, thats excellent - Paecilomyces farinosus particularly is even in Collins book, but i didnt see it. mentioned as in mossy banks too. Ah well, we all learn!
Bioimages has good shots too.
I'll do some more research to try for species, if possible and try to get better shots with my macro lens now.
I'll try and dig out the pupa to get a whole shot too.
Deeply grateful.
Cheers
Ken
Yorkshire Chris, If you're about?

[diggleken]

Just to add - these are some spore shots, poor I know, for record purposes.

Cheers
Ken