Crust Fungus

A pale buff-colour crust fungus, probably Stereum rugosum, growing on a birch tree (Betula sp).

I took this specimen home with me:

It yielded these spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These are about 10.5 x 4um which agrees with the 9–13 x 3.5–5um given for Stereum rugosum at RogersMushrooms.com.  The spores of most other Stereum sp seem to be noticeably smaller. The above specimen was rather old dessicated which probably explains why it didn't bleed when cut.

First photo and specimen taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-11

Tar Spot Fungus

What is probably Diatrypella quercina growing on a twig from an oak tree (Quercus sp).

I took the following specimen:

This yielded the following spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These are strongly curved and about 9 x 2um which agrees well with the "strongly curved, 8-12 microns long, 2-3 microns wide" given here at Pilzbestimmer.de.

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-22.

Dock Bugs

From three and a half years back: a group of dock bugs, Coreus marginatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-10

Crust Fungus

A grey crust fungus, probably Peniophora cinerea, growing on a fallen beech branch (Fagus sp).

I took the following specimen home with me:

It yielded the following spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These are about 9.5 x 3.5um which is at the large end of the range 7-9(-10) x 2.5-3.5um given for Peniophora cinerea given here at MycoBank.

First photo and specimen taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-03-02.

Primrose

A common primrose, Primula vulgaris.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-03-02.