Variation in concept …

Sowerbyella radiculata

Until someone calls it something else …

The British Mycological Society records 124 British records of S. radiculata (Pezizales: Pyronemataceae) on its FRDBI database [18 October 2017] with just 5 from Sussex; the most recent being in 1957 from Friston Forest, East Sussex. There are two early records, one dating back to 1876, from Stopham, West Sussex. However, S. radiculata has also been recorded from Lullington Heath, East Sussex, where it was first recorded in 2014. There is also a modern record from Ashdown Forest, East Sussex (M. Allison, 2017, pers. comms., 14 October).

Buczacki et al. (2012) state, ‘usually in small trooping-tufted groups’ and ‘on soil with conifers.’ Sterry et al. (2009) state, ‘solitary or in small groups in coniferous woodland.’ The above specimens were found amongst coastal chalk grassland in East Sussex; so quite distinct in habitat from that described. There is a lot of variation in the current concept of this uncommon species, including a few ‘varieties’, which will no doubt be described as separate species in the future. Apart from the untypical habitat in which the above examples were found, the spores are quite wide and have a nice dense reticulate ornamentation; shown above dyed with Cotton Blue.

My thanks to Nick Aplin for the above photomicrograph and his considered opinion.

References:

Buczacki, S., Shields, C. and Ovenden, D. (2012). Collins Fungi Guide: The most complete field guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain & Ireland. London: HarperCollins, p. 606, fig. p. 607.

Sterry, P. and Hughes. B. (2009). Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools. London: HarperCollins, p. 324, fig. p. 325.

www.fieldmycology.net/FRDBI/FRDBIrecord.asp?intGBNum=57192

www.ascomycete.org/2000Pezizales/TaxonView/tabid/129/ArticleId/30/language/en-US/Sowerbyella-radiculata.aspx?mapid=16#prettyPhoto

Peziza ...

Anything but straightforward …

During a recent search of old parkland in West Sussex I found a small colony of the above cup fungi, which I believed to be a Peziza species. They were growing amongst a chipped softwood mulch at the base of a large cedar tree.

Cup fungi, the brown ones in particular, are especially difficult to identify with certainty. Having photographed a representative selection of the specimens, I collected several samples and later passed them to Nick Aplin, the county recorder for ascomycetes, for his opinion. Nick has tentatively identified them as Peziza varia s.l. Species delimitation in this group is quite controversial and there are several undescribed species, which could be a good fit as the spores from my collection were just a bit large for P. varia. The samples have been dried with view to DNA barcoding and further study later in the year. My thanks to Nick for his time and opinion and for the above photomicrograph.

A welly full of water …

Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa)

Early spring and summer is the time to look for M. paludosa. This saprotrophic [feeding on dead organic matter] earthtongue is usually found on the remains of higher plants, mosses and algae in areas of seeping or standing water including streams, ditches and pond margins. Although widespread in Britain it can be difficult to find and is generally uncommon. Despite its bright yellow-orange head and its gregarious behaviour, it is easily overlooked. You will not find M. paludosa where the habitat is unsuitable, but neither should you assume that where the habitat is suitably boggy with plenty of decomposing vegetation it will appear - more often than not it doesn't.

Be careful of the depth of the water though …

References:

O’Reilly, P. (2016). Fascinated by Fungi – exploring the majesty and mystery, facts and fantasy of the quirkiest kingdom on earth. Llandysul: First Nature, p. 385.

Phillips, R. (2006). Mushrooms. London: Pan Macmillan, p. 367, fig. p. 366 (h).

Sterry, P. and Hughes. B. (2009). Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools. London: HarperCollins, p. 304, fig. p. 305.

www.first-nature.com/fungi/mitrula-paludosa.php

www.leifgoodwin.co.uk/Fungi/Mitrula%20paludosa.html