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| Gammundia striatulata 8th January 2015 |
On January 8th I saw a small group of
grey fungi along an old tractor track in Pembrey forest. Broken conifer
branches were strewn here and there but these fungi were just in the sand and
not obviously attached to wood debris. One 'fb' was gathered but this
was so covered with sand that I did not do any microscopy but assumed
it was a white-spored species and failed to find a name.
Passing
along this track on 2nd Feb there were still several fb's so one with
the least sand on it was picked and I was able to see spore shape and
size. I made the spores to be 7 x 4- 4.5µ and these seemed to minutely verruculose (not having a smoothe surface).
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| Gammundia striatulata 2nd February2015 |
This species has a huge number of synonyms as it has been described many times as 'new'! There is some suggestion that this is a 'lichenicolous' fungus, one that is a parasite on living lichens ---- species of Cladonia and Peltigera are mentioned. There were no lichens where I found these but will take another look.
The specific name 'striatulata' seems apt as the cap has marked striations which persist.
A 'prize' for anyone who has spotted the second fungus in the lower photo!
ReplyDeleteThere is a developing ascomycete (cup fungus) to the left of the lower gilled fungus ---- this is as yet quite small. This is a developing Peziza violacea which was present in vast numbers along these tractor tracks last spring ---- the first time these had been seen in the forest but found once at Ashpits woodland, Burry Port. This species also has finely verruculose spores. Most books and 'keys' say this cup fungus is found on burnt ground so one can get led astray when attempting to name it.