FUNGUS: Some gasteroid fungi in north-west England

September 28-October 4, 2010:
'Gasteroid' is a loose term used to describe fungi in which the spores are developed within the closed fruitbodies. The result is that the spores are not forcibly dicharged but are released passively often through a central hole (ostiole) by the aid of external agents such as wind or falling rain drops. The group includes those fungi well-known as puffballs, earthstars, etc. Dunes and woodlands are typical habitats with those at Ainsdale NNR near Southport being especially rich. A few seen and photographed recently are shown here.


[Dunes at Ainsdale]

Lycoperdon perlatum, Common Puffball, (below) occurs either singly or in small clusters and has its outer surface delicately covered with fine spines or 'pearls'. It is widespread in Britain and very common at Ainsdale where photographed here.





[Fruitbodies from which the spores have been expelled]


[Above, probably the closely-related Lycoperdon nigrescens, Ainsdale dunes]

Lycoperdon excipuliformis, Pestle-shaped Puffball (below) also occurs at Ainsdale but less frequently. It mainly differs from the above in its shape as suggested by its common name. It is more elongated and taller than L. perlatum.


[Lycoperdon excipuliformis at Ainsdale]

Lycoperdon pyriforme, Stump Puffball, is common throughout the country and grows in woodland on strongly-decaying wood. Photographed below at Eaves Wood, Lancashire in 2008.


[Lycoperdon pyriforme]

Scleroderma citrinum, Common Earthball, (below) is tinged yellowish and has coarse scales or warts on its outer surface. It favours acidic woodlands and heaths and is often associated with birch, beech or oak. Here it was growing amongst scattered birch on the heath at Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria.



[Scleroderma citrinum]

Geastrum triplex, Collared Earthstar, is probably the commonest species within the genus. The expanded fruit body splits into several arched rays to reveal the onion-shaped central body. Often found on dunes or in calcareous woodland as here at Silverdale.


[Geastrum triplex]

FUNGUS: Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea) at Winmarleigh, Lancashire in 1996

September, 1996:
An infrequent occurrence is a major eruption of the Giant Puffball. Such an occasion was in 1996 in a farm pasture near Winmarleigh, Lancashire where they made an amazing sight.





There were more than forty large white fruiting bodies which had formed themselves into a neat circle of approximately 20 metres diameter and were visible from a considerable distance. Each one rested neatly in the grass giving the impression of being laid there by some extra-terrestrial being. Some individuals attained the size of a football and all were almost spherical and attached to the substrate by a mycellial cord.





One was collected and sliced open to reveal a pure white interior. In this condition they are delicious when fried and recall the taste of a strong field mushroom. Unfortunately, they quickly deteriorate and darken inside at which stage they are considered inedible. Even when newly-sliced, a yellow tinge soon develops. It is very important that they are not eaten without being absolutely certain of their identity.

FUNGUS: Collared Earth-star (Geastrum triplex) at Silverdale, Lancashire

October 8, 2008:
Collared Earth-star is a locally scarce fungus of quite striking appearance with its bulbous spore sac on a raised roughly star-shaped base. This is due to the rays splitting transversely and opening outwards. It is an autumn-flowering fungus and usually occurs amongst leaf litter in deciduous woodland, as here.





Having an aperture at the apex of the spore sac, any slight disturbance or even falling rain will cause the mature spores to be expelled. There are several species of Geastrum in Britain, many of them rare. Although uncommon, this is one which is more frequently met.

FUNGUS: Sarcoscypha austriaca, Scarlet Elf Cup at Silverdale, Lancashire

April 18,2009:
Scarlet Elf Cup is a rather infrequently-found British fungus. It occurs in winter to spring on damp rotting wood of broad-leaf or coniferous trees, often amongst leaf litter.



The relatively large bright red cups can be up to 5 cm in diameter and occur singly or in small groups. It was formerly identified as S. coccinea but this species is not known to occur in Britain. On this occasion it was found in a shaded deciduous wooded area near Silverdale when six fruiting bodied were found.





Passing the same spot this year on March 23 (2010) some fruiting bodies were again seen, this time there were seven of them

FUNGUS: Poronia punctata at Newborough Warren, Anglesey

November 2006:
Poronia punctata (Nail fungus) is considered to be amongst the very rarest of European fungi. It is only found on the dung of ponies and horses which have fed exclusively on unimproved grassland kept free of artificial fertilizers. Although quite common in Britain in the past, it has suffered a drastic decline due to changes to modern agricultural practices and is now known only from the New Forest, Anglesey and one or two other scattered sites. In Europe it is restricted to the south-east. Its fruiting bodies, found in the autumn, are to a maximum of 2cm high with the stalks rooted in the substrate. The cap is a flattened disc only 5-10 mm in diameter, pale grey-white and dotted blackish by the tips of the perithecia. It is aptly named Nail Fungus.



Photographed at Newborough Warren, Anglesey (November 2006)