Caloscypha fulgens --- no common name. Found by Stephanie Thomas on March 11th in Pembrey Forest (SN 388 020). There are just 21 collections on FRDBI records and is a RDL species. So a great find. This is a quite distinctive 'cup-fingus' from the shade of yellow which turns greenish with age and on handling.
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| Caloscypha fulgens |
Stephanie also took a habitat photo which is very useful as this shows Birch at the side of a path. The main tree in the forest is Pine (var maritima). As there are so few records, books give a variety of associated trees/shrubs.
In 'Fungi of Switz' 1(plate 97) they say Otto Baral (one of the foremost European mycologists) considers it as mycorrhyzal with Abies (Silver Fir)--- but this was 1981!
Colin has done microscopy --- below ---- which shows the round spores and that the ascus tip is not blue in iodine stain -- Meltzers iodine --- and, last picture there is one of the 'paraphyses' and these ar 'Y'-shaped.
Should have added that this is the first record for Wales and the 'potrion' of the fungus which Stephanie collected will go to the Kew fungarium. So another great find. Spring is a good time to look everywhere as some splendid species can be found. Keep your eyes sharpened!
ReplyDeleteLove this, well done everyone, especially Steph for spotting it!
ReplyDeleteJust looked at the excellent 'ascomycete-forum',AscoFrance and Malcolm Greaves (? France Spain ???) found a battered specimen while half-way through a round of Golf --it had been trodden on by a very inconsiderate Gofffler.
ReplyDeleteWell done Steph, great find!
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