Beiträge von Steve_mt

Hello, some time was dedicated to this astonishing fungus. First of all, this was growing on the base of the trunk of a complete burnt Ceratonia siliqua tree, in the sense that I think it was dead. Other burnt carob trees in the vicinity had new branches about 1m long sprouting after the September-November rain.

Now I examined the specimen which assumed an ochre-buff colour for being completely covered in spores. It appears that the fungus consists of repeating indeterminate budding, each bud about 4mm across. Beneath there is a gelatinous matrix with an olive-green colour that does not change in alkaline solution.

As expected, the reproductive part is carpeting the outer layer and could judge that they are conidiophores, like cactus trees with stout meticulae (or phialides) where at the apex there is a head of tiny bristle-like appendages where (conidia-)spores were attached to, hence looking like a Nodulosporum! Some hyphae had walls with incrusted pigment.

So now I am convinced that this is an Ascomycete, an anamorph of Xylariaceae, possibly a Hypoxylon? The fungus looks to be a Nodulosporum or look-alikes.

Another Aspergillus,growing on dead succulent stems of Aptenia - this time coal black colour . Aspergillus nigra could be one, are there other black aspergilli spp. pls. ?

Sorry for the jumbled sequence - here are the agars in sequence of position in the abovepost

1. PDA

2. Czapek

3. Malt Extract

4. Malt Extract

5. Czapek

I attach here reverse plate of PDA

I have collected this Aspergillus from the fleshy mesocarp (and exocarp) of Iris seeds. I cultivated it and got this beautiful green colony with chlorine-yellow green hues. A quick look under the microscope and it was an Aspergillus sp. I had dense conidiophores under the microscope and nothing photogenic, but I try the scotch tape method tomorrow. I wonder if there is a specific aspergillus which gives the colour combination.

It was less colourful on Malt Ext Agar and very colourful on Czapek. I am cultivating it on Oat Meal Agar too just to check how it looks.

Hello, I was doing some culturing experiments / research, so I will be posting a couple of posts in this section. Hope there are colleagues who are interested.

I.am trying to subculture pleurotus spp on media. Sometimes they are slightly parasitised or maybe plate gets contaminated. I found this beautiful 'broccoli-colonies' mould (for their scattered green small heads) and under the microscope there are small ovoid-elliptic spores, perpendicular branching and single ellipsoid-fusiform phialides giving rise to what I think cluster of spores.

I think we are dealing with a Trichoderma. What do you think ?

Thanks Jan-Arne,

I think you hit the nail on the head. Looks a good comparison

Hohenbuehelia cyphelliformis (Hlívička číšovcovitá)

Hohenbuehelia cyphelliformis - Becherförmiger Muscheling

Another option is H. grisea but that species is more grey

In my archives I have this small fan-shaped bracket fungi, about 2 cm across, growing on fallen branches of Ficus carica (Fig tree). The hymenium is waxy white, very spaced up and turning beige. I was thinking about Panellus (serotinus maybe) but could be other fleshy species. Help is appreciated

Probably you are referring to S. incrustans

MycoDB : Fiche de Sebacina incrustans

I halted my investigation but when it dries it become like a coral body covered in ocre spore powder as in the pics of the link above. However that species is a grass species but this was on a burnt trunk.

Many thanks,,, to be continued

I will investigate. Quick response: This is the anamorph of Hypoxylon deusta which looks like a black amorphous stroma and I could see something like that on the trunk (I thought it was soot from the burning of this tree!)

Dear friends, thanks for sharing your experience on this topic. I am happy that I can provide something to debate upon. I am posting images of my 'Hortiboletus rubellus' with typical red dots. B013 was found in a cave with Quercus ilex roots emerging through a fissure in the rock and the Hortiboletus growing in complete darkness.

<<<1>>>

B211 is probably X. redeuilhii now that I am gaining experience of Xerocomus (additional image of section of stipe included)

<<<2>>>

This link provides verified images of X. engelii (the author sequenced them)

MICOLOGIA, di Salvatore Saitta - Hortiboletus engelii

<<<3>>>

"I've had collections of H. engelii where only one of several specimen had them."

This is exactly a similar situation. I wonder if slicing the specimens 8 hours after collection may reduce the colour-effect. I often collect and examine calmly at home. Many collections here are in hot hunting sites and operating incognito!

<<<4>>>

So guys, if I had to ask you to construct a key to tell apart engelii, rubellus and redeuilhii how would you go? I try my own ...

1a. Stipe deep red (almost brownish) at the base, sometimes reaching up to 3/4 of its length; flesh at the base of stipe bordered deep red (sectioning obligatory), patchy or continuous, sometimes forming large reddish-brown blobs in the centre; context does not change blue, or if so faintly after a long period of time >>> X. redeuilhii

^{1b. Stipe sulphur yellow merging to light bronze with flushes of light red, sometimes intense towards the central part, rarely so at the base; flesh at the base of the stipe do not show a distinct red border, but tiny orange-red granules or hue is present at the inner part, sometimes lacking completely ; context stains light blue rapidly or after 5 mins. >>> 2}

^{2a. Context turns faint blue within few seconds after cutting; surface of stipe always with obvious reddish colour; flesh under pileus and upper region of stipe remains yellow >>> H. rubellus}

^{2b. Context turns faint blue after a few minutes from cutting; surface of stipe sometimes lacking reddish tone or very faint; flesh under pileus and upper region of stipe usually forms a reddish layer >>> X. engelii}

<<<5>>>>

If you want my ab1 ITS sequences, I am ready to share them. PM yr email and I will send them for yr further studies.

No, the thing is that I am overwhelmed with beautiful collections and findings these days that I am trying to get some short cuts for bizarre fungi like this. It had no rained heavily in Malta for like 6 years and this year I am finding all sorts of things!

But specimen collected and will provide the micros and better macroimages as soon as I can (Tuesday maybe). I am really going insane

Hi, I found an interesting mushroom and I wonder if it is familiar with you. Apart the pics, the cluesI have is that it was growing at the base of a burnt trunk, and when collecting samples I could see greyish-beige powder floating in the wind. To be continued... (but maybe it is a unique and easy fungus to identify.

I agree with all you said especiall re misnamed conclusions - after all there is always the human interpretation with errors and bias. This is a clear example! May I ask the source of the tree you kindly posted here.

Regards rubellus vs engelii, then the lack of red spots at the base are the strongest indication towards engelii. I am sure they had a little aromatic pine-like scent which intensified on drying. I wonder if rubellus do get a red colouring under the cap (sometimes at the margin of the upper stipe) when cut in half, or this is something that engelii only do?

Hortiboletus engelii - A.M.B. PESARO

And in this site there is a nice piece of information:

Note

Molto simile a Hortiboletus rubellus, si riconosce per il cappello bruno scuro senza alcuna sfumatura rossa nei giovani esemplari (H. rubellus nel giovane è sempre ± rossastro), poi, maturando, si decolora e compaiono tonalità rossastre rendendo così più difficile separare le due specie. Anche a livello microscopico ho trovato delle differenze, le spore che in H. engelii sono di varie forme: da ovoidali a largamente ellittiche a subcilindracee, leggermente strozzate, tutte senza depressione suprailiare.

Translation

Very similar to Hortiboletus rubellus, but it [engelii] is recognized by the dark brown cap without any red hue in the young specimens (H. rubellus in the young is always ± reddish), then, as it matures, it discolours and reddish shades appear making it more difficult to separate the two species . Even at the microscopic level I found some differences, the spores that in H. engelii are of various shapes: from ovoid to largely elliptical to subcylindraceous, slightly strangled, all without suprailiary depression

Young specimens dark brown: https://www.pilzforum.eu/attachment/406766-img-8767s-jpg/

Oh dear me how confusing this !!! To be honest, I did not like much to name a Xerocomus that do not form red dots at the base as Hortiboletus rubellus! And to blow my mind even further, I analysed the sequences in Unite to provide matches as follows:

UDB000443|SH1610853.08FU|Xerocomellus chrysenteron           1585    0.0  UDB000446|SH1610858.08FU|Xerocomellus chrysenteron           1557    0.0  KY693966|SH1610853.08FU|Xerocomellus rubellus                1550    0.0  UDB000445|SH1610856.08FU|Xerocomellus chrysenteron           1544    0.0  UDB000444|SH1610857.08FU|Xerocomellus chrysenteron           1543    0.0  UDB000447|SH1610855.08FU|Xerocomellus chrysenteron           1519    0.0  JQ685725|SH1610853.08FU|Xerocomellus rubellus                1515    0.0  

Now when I click the UDB000443 it says, UNITE taxon name is Xerocomus communis (Bull.) Bon, 1985

... and I am currently running them in PlutoF too (maybe I get different name!)

This is becoming far too complicated!

All 4 samples of this bolete match MN685116

The 2 samples of redeuilhii resulted in:

B408A = ok, 100% Xerocomellus aff. redeuilhii KU721022

B408B = ok, 99.85% Xerocomellus redeuilhii NR_155981

Yes, I expect the hymenium to be in the outer layer. I have not dried 2 specimens so I can do this test but remember that the hymenium is not developed and we might have false negative J test. To be continued .... thanks for your help - much obliged (and applies to all members who have contributed on this coral-lichen thing!)

Neolecta is the closest I could judge.

Neolecta irregularis / Mitrule irrégulière | Récolté par J. … | Flickr

I received the ITS results for two specimens and they are Xerocomellus redeuilhii (one with aff. redeuilhii as if it is a bit atypical, as was my collection

B408A = ok, 100% Xerocomellus aff. redeuilhii KU721022

B408B = ok, 99.85% Xerocomellus redeuilhii NR_155981

https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/899863

The description of H. rubellus in the link below is perfect with what experienced.

Ruby Bolete - Hortiboletus rubellus - Discover the Wild

Dear friends, I carried out ITS sequence for four specimens from this population and had a 100% result for Xerocomus rubellus MN685116 for three and 99.87 for the other.

Now I am wondering at large why non of the specimens produced the characteristic red dots at the base of the stipe and instead it formed a reddening under the cap. I guess I should trust the result but hmmm ?!???

What do you think ?

I can share the sequence results.

I am back with this one and I got the result from ITS sequencing as Psathyrella panaeoloides. As the name suggests this Psathyrella look like a Panaeolus so it is a consolation for me for opting to be a Panaeolus. Schupfnudel you were right on suggesting Psathyrella!!! I was confused between the two but stipe was a bit flexible and the deposits on the cheilos were so much misleading (and the white edged lamellae too)!

Comparing with this excellent report:

Psathyrella-panaeoloidesDaD.pdf

My collection have those ' rectangular ' spores, in the right sizes and some comments make reference to cheilocystidia having deposits on the top. So we are good!

Hi Andreas, Thank you for keeping this in mind and I also have not forgotten this fungs on two aspects.

1. If you need to have a voucher specimen (dry) just to have a look, I can send it. I will sent to Alvarado soon. I suspect it is a new species, I posted on MEditerranean fungi FB and they could not come with good suggestions (somewhat trending on Clavaria).

2. I went to check again the micro of my specimens stored in the fridge and stubbornly no reproduction. The basidiole-like hyphae could indeed be immature asci after all.

So this fungus will go to Spain with my next batch.

Let me know if you need a specimen (Message privately yr address or on info@maltawildplats.com)

I skimmed over the paper - very, very interesting and the pieces are fitting nicely together. This fungus seems quite close to Hypoxylon or Biscogniauxia anamorph, which then becomes a black stroma - the sexual state - on which the Cosmospora grows on (assumingly on the dead stroma, but not sure). Today I will investigate at high power the condiophores. Biscogniauxia forms black stroma on bark so we are getting close!

Well done guys - I come back in the next competition

My favourite one was the Lepista which came 2nd for its subtle colors, angle and soft focus in the border.

Thank you xxxx

I will investigate and let you know. To tell you the whole story, I think when its life is over it deposits as a black layer on the bark, on which an interesting Cosmospora s.l. sp. (cf flavoviridis) later grows upon. I really wish to solve this puzzle so many thanks for your guidance.

Nectria cinnabarina s.l. (or something else) - Forum ASCOFrance

Hi Andreas, thanks for yr help. I have sent material to Alvarado and I can send this to him too. However if u wish to have a sample to examine under yr lens, I can send you one fruiting body. When they dry they are quite small and shrivelled so hope they rehydrate well. Let me know (send address). The samples in the fridge are also healthy and will check their maturity tmrw