Hello
Today at Devils Dyke on the South Downs I came across this dark bluish disco underneath a log in Ash woodland (so the log presumably belongs to Ash). It is 1mm in diameter. I've attached photos of the whole fruitbodies along with my best efforts at microscopy. The asci are approximately 5um in width and the spores are asymmetrical (elliptical) 8.5um in length and 1.5um in width.
Any help would be much appreciated! Sorry if the microscope photos aren't that clear.
James
Bluish discomycete
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Please do not ask for the identification of fungi for edibility or narcotic purposes. Any help provided by forum members is on the understanding that fungi are not to be consumed. Any deaths or serious poisonings are the responsibility of the person eating or preparing the fungus for others. If it is apparent from a post that the fungus is for eating or smoking etc, the post will be deleted and a warning given. Although many members do eat fungi, no-one would be willing to take someone else's life into their hands.
Please do not ask for the identification of fungi for edibility or narcotic purposes. Any help provided by forum members is on the understanding that fungi are not to be consumed. Any deaths or serious poisonings are the responsibility of the person eating or preparing the fungus for others. If it is apparent from a post that the fungus is for eating or smoking etc, the post will be deleted and a warning given. Although many members do eat fungi, no-one would be willing to take someone else's life into their hands.
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Chris Yeates
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Re: Bluish discomycete
Hi James
on wood this is probably a Mollisia. Not an easy area - in the past this would probably have been called Mollisia cinerea by most people (a bit of a dumping ground, in the same way that old "Scutellinia scutellata" will have covered several species).
If you haven't already download this: http://www.mollisia.de/start.html click on the British flag first. Then read the introductory notes carefully. A lot of the key characters are those listed by Andreas in response to your white discomycete post. The amount of oily droplets in the spores is important. The first thing to check, however, is that the paraphyses contain oily refractive bodies - that separates Mollisia from Pyrenopeziza (which lacks these). Also having KOH is important; some species give a colour reaction - like this:http://www.ascofrance.com/search_recolte/3202 (though your fungus is definitely not M. rosae). That reaction is due to the reaction of those paraphyses contents with the chemical; it can be quite quick, so is best seen (if it happens) by feeding a little KOH at the edge of a water mount and then watching down the 'scope until it reaches the specimen.
Hope that helps a bit.
Chris
on wood this is probably a Mollisia. Not an easy area - in the past this would probably have been called Mollisia cinerea by most people (a bit of a dumping ground, in the same way that old "Scutellinia scutellata" will have covered several species).
If you haven't already download this: http://www.mollisia.de/start.html click on the British flag first. Then read the introductory notes carefully. A lot of the key characters are those listed by Andreas in response to your white discomycete post. The amount of oily droplets in the spores is important. The first thing to check, however, is that the paraphyses contain oily refractive bodies - that separates Mollisia from Pyrenopeziza (which lacks these). Also having KOH is important; some species give a colour reaction - like this:http://www.ascofrance.com/search_recolte/3202 (though your fungus is definitely not M. rosae). That reaction is due to the reaction of those paraphyses contents with the chemical; it can be quite quick, so is best seen (if it happens) by feeding a little KOH at the edge of a water mount and then watching down the 'scope until it reaches the specimen.
Hope that helps a bit.
Chris
"You must know it's right, the spore is on the wind tonight"
Steely Dan - "Rose Darling"
Steely Dan - "Rose Darling"
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jimmymac2
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Re: Bluish discomycete
Hi Chris
Thanks for the link to that key - really helpful! I ran it through the key using the following characters I was able to see on my specimen:
James
Thanks for the link to that key - really helpful! I ran it through the key using the following characters I was able to see on my specimen:
- Oil 3
- KOH+ yellow (not overly strong)
- Aseptate spores
- Spores smaller than 13-18(20) x 3.5-4.2 µm
James
Always keep your eyes open... 
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Chris Yeates
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- Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 7:01 pm
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Re: Bluish discomycete
Good work James
let's hope the man himself (Andreas) will make a comment. The key thing is that the whole exercise has given you a lot of experience/learnt skills - ultimately it's the only way one starts to get to grips with a group.
PS - a good set of images of Mollisia fusca here - from a very experienced Spanish mycologist:http://www.ascofrance.com/search_recolte/4450
let's hope the man himself (Andreas) will make a comment. The key thing is that the whole exercise has given you a lot of experience/learnt skills - ultimately it's the only way one starts to get to grips with a group.
PS - a good set of images of Mollisia fusca here - from a very experienced Spanish mycologist:http://www.ascofrance.com/search_recolte/4450
"You must know it's right, the spore is on the wind tonight"
Steely Dan - "Rose Darling"
Steely Dan - "Rose Darling"