Mushroom

An Amanita sp mushroom, possibly Amanita excelsa.

Here is the stem:

And here are the gills:

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-10-26.

Toothed Crust Fungus

From a couple of years ago: a white toothed crust fungus, possibly Irpex lacteus, on a fallen branch. The hook shape of the teeth is probably a result of the teeth continuing to grow downwards after the branch had fallen and the orientation of the fungus had changed.

 Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2011-12-10.

Jelly Fungus

A jelly fungus, probably Exidia thuretania, growing on a fallen twig. Myxarium nucleatum is similar but tends to be clearer and often contains white nuclei.

I took the following specimen:

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

These average about 16 x 5.5um which agrees with the 13-18 x 5.5-7um given for Exidia thuretania but is a bit larger than the 8.5-14 x 3.5-5um given for Myxarium nucleatum.

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-01.

Black Fungus

Perithecia of a Rosellinia sp fungus growing on a decaying branch from a birch tree (Betula sp).

I took the following specimen

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

These are about 21 x 7um which matches the quoted sizes for several of the commonest Rosellinia species in the UK, such as R. aquila (18-22 x 6-8um) and R. mammiformis (17-21 x 6-7um).

I used a razor blade to cut open some of the perithecia.  One of them was filled with milky water and was lined with asci (magnification x60, field width about 860um, reflected light):

In the following close-up you can make out the developing spores in the asci (magnification x150, field width about 344um, reflected light):

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

Hazel Flowers

A flower of the hazel tree (Corylus avellana).  These are like tiny buds.  For the male seed heads (catkins) see here.

I took the following specimen home with me:

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-01.