Fungus

Another orange fungus, this time probably Nectria peziza, growing on a rotting branch from a broad-leaf tree.

I took the following specimen:

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

The spores are about 17 x 6um which is slightly longer than the 12-15 x 5-7um given for N. peziza spores at  Rogers Mushrooms.

I also found the following ascus (also x600 and field width 86um):

This is about 80 x 8um which agrees well with the 75-90 x 8-10um given for N. peziza asci at Rogers Mushrooms.

First photo and specimen taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-12-30.

Orange Crust Fungus

An orange crust fungus, probably Peniophora incarnata, growing on a branch cut from a laurel bush (Prunus laurocerasus).

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

These spores are about 7.5 x 3.6um.  This is at the lower end of the range of (7-)8-12 x (3-)3.5-5 µm given for Peniophora incarnata on this page at Mycobank.

First photo and specimen taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-12-30.

Slime Mold

A dark red slime mould, probably Arcyria denudata.  Arcyria incarnata is similar but the sporangia are much fuzzier when they have burst.

I took a specimen home with me:

Under the microscope the spores are about 6 x 5.5um (magnification x600, field width 86um):

The capillitium is rough and thick and has loops (also magnification x600, field width 86um):

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-12-24.

Black Mushrooms

What I think are deer mushrooms, Pluteus cervinus, growing on wood chips.  The caps of this species are often a lighter brown colour.  The gills look like this:

I took a specimen home with me but was unable to get any spores from it.  However, under the microscope the gill surfaces showed the large protuding horned cystidia that are characteristic of P. cervinus (magnification x150, field width about 344um):

A close view of one cystidium (magnification x600, field width about 86um):

First 2 photos and specimen taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-11-10.

Another Toothed Crust Fungus

Another toothed crust fungus, this time probably Radulomyces molaris (= Basidioradula molare), again probably on a fallen oak branch.

I took this specimen:

And the specimen yielded these spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These spores are about 9 x 6um which is distinctly fatter than those of Basidioradulum radula found here, and which agrees well with the ranges of about 8-12 x 6-8um often quoted for R. molaris.

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-12-24.