Grows on wood Mushrooms identifications

Tremella mesenterica Retz. ex Hook, syn Tremella lutescens Fr. Yellow Brain Fungus, Tr?melle m?sent?rique, Goldgelber Zitterling, Aranyos rezg?gomba, Tremella arancione, Gele trilzwam. Fruit body 2?10cm across, comprising soft, flabby, gelatinous lobes and folds, golden-yellow to orange, drying dark orange, horny, and brittle. Spores white, broadly ovate to subglobose, 7?10 x 6?10?. Basidia resembling hot cross buns when seen from above. Habitat on dead deciduous branches, sometimes still attached to the tree. Season all year, especially late autumn. Frequent. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. Note some specimens found in America were white, this needs further investigation.

Tremella foliacea Fries Fodros rezg?gomba. Known as Brown Witches? Butter. The fungus is an irregular gelatinous arrangement of lobes and cups fused at the base 5-15 cm wide. The colour is brown to reddish-ochre, lighter when fresh and young. Spores dull cream-yellowish, 8-11 x 6-9um nearly spherical. Smell and taste slight. Growing on hardwood twigs and logs in autumn right up to winter; Found in both Europe and North America . Said to be edible but I advise not eating it. The pictures were sent to me by Lorand Barth? in Hungary the second one was taken by Edit Szilv?sy to both of them I am most grateful.

Stropharia hornemannii (Fr.) Lundell Fenyves harmatgomba. Cap 6-15cm across, broadly convex umbonate; dull reddish brown or purple-brown, with white veil remnants at margin; very viscid when wet. Gills adnate, crowded; pallid then purple-brown. Stem 60-120x 10-20mm; white; strongly fibrillose-scaly below the prominent ring. Flesh white. Odor a little unpleasant. Taste a little unpleasant. Spores ellipsoid, with germ pore, 10-14 x 5.5-7?. Deposit purple-brown. Habitat on rotting conifer logs. Found in Europe and northern North America. Season August-November. Not edible- possibly poisonous.

Stereum hirsutum (Wild ex Fr.) S. F. Gray. Hairy Stereum, Stereum h?riss?, Gelber Schichtpilz, Borost?s r?teggomba, Gelde korstzwam. Fruit body occasionally resupinate but normally forming tough leathery brackets 3?10cm across, 1?4cm wide, often in tiered groups, margin wavy and lobed; upper surface zoned ochre to greyish, hairy. Fertile or lower side bright yellow, duller brownish or greyish with age, smooth. Spores white, ellipsoid, amyloid, 6?7.5 x 3?3.5um. Habitat on stumps, logs and fallen branches of deciduous trees. Season all year. Common. Not edible. Found In Europe.

Stereum gausapatum (Fr.) Fr. syn. Stereum spadiceum (Fr.) Fr. Brauner Schichtpilz Nemezes r?teggomba Bleeding Oak Crust. Fruit body resupinate or forming small tiered brackets 1?4cm across, tough and leathery, thin-fleshed; upper surface zoned ochre-brown to greyish, finely hairy, margin white. Fertile or lower surface pallid to dark chestnut, smooth, bleeding red if cut when fresh. Spores white, oblong, amyloid, 7?8 x 3?3.5um. Habitat on stumps, logs and fallen branches of deciduous trees, especially oak. Season all year. Common. Not edible. Found In Europe.

Sphaerobolus stellatus Tode syn. S. carpobolus (L.) Schroet. syn. Carpobolus stellatus (Mich.) Desm. Kugelwerfer Shooting Star. Fruit body 1.5?2.5mm across, initially globose and whitish becoming more ochraceous and splitting above into 5?9 minute orange-coloured rays, exposing the peridiole as a brownish ball containing the spores. This is projected over a range of up to 5.5 metres (14 feet) to disperse the spores by the sudden reversal of the receptacle which then appears as a translucent white sphere sitting on the star-shaped outer wall. Spores oblong, 7.5?10 x 3.5?5um. Habitat on sticks, sawdust, dung and other organic debris. Season autumn. Occasional but possibly often overlooked. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Sparassis crispa Wulf. ex Fr. Cauliflower or Brain Fungus, Sparassis Cr?pu, Clavaire Cr?pue, Krause Glucke, Fodros k?posztagomba, Creste di gallo, Grote Sponszwam. Fruit body 20?50cm across, subglobose, cauliflower-like, comprising numerous flattened, crisped lobes on a short thick rooting stem, pale ochraceous to buff, darkening with age. Smell sweetish, pleasant. Spores whitish to pale yellow, pip-shaped, 5?7 x 4?5um. Habitat at the base of conifer trees or near by. Season autumn. Occasional. Edible and delicious when young and fresh; must be thoroughly cleaned. Distribution, America and Europe.

Serpula lacrymans (Fr.) Karst. syn. Merulius lacrymans Schum. Dry Rot Fungus, Hausschwamm, K?nnyez? h?zigomba, Huiszwam. Fruit body 5?50cm across, usually resupinate but occasionally forming brackets on vertical substrates, arising from whitish, pinkish, lilac or grey mycelium. Flesh 2?12mm thick, greyish-white, spongy-fleshy. Pores rusty-yellow becoming more yellowish towards the thick, white sterile margin. Spores rust-brown, elliptic, 8?10 x 5?6um. The fungus gives off a distinctive damp rotten smell. Habitat on worked wood in buildings although the fruit bodies of the fungus may also appear on non-organic substrates such as plaster or brickwork. Season all year. Common. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. Infection of wood occurs when it has become sodden for some long time following prolonged damp due to leaking roofs or pipes, either by spores or by vegetative mycelium spreading through brickwork. On germination of the spores the mycelia exhibit two distinct modes of growth. Firstly, numerous fine hyphae penetrate the wood, producing enzymes which break down the wood and enable the fungus to absorb nutrients; as the wood dries it cracks into cubical blocks and eventually disintegrates into brown powder. It is the second mode of growth which is most easily detected since it takes the form of thick mycelial cords and cottony sheets spreading over brickwork, metal, etc. enabling the fungus to travel over areas from which it cannot derive nutrients. The fruit bodies arise from these mycelial cords. Thios phoyograph was lent to me by Alan and Patie Outen.

Scutellinia scutellata (L. ex St. Amans) Lamb. Common Eyelash S?rt?s cs?szegomba. Cup 0.2?1cm across, shallowly disc-shaped, inner surface bright orange-red, outer pale brown covered in stiff dark brown or black hairs up to 1,000? long and 40? wide towards the forked, rooting bases, narrowing towards the pointed apices, septate; visible without a lens as distinct ?eyelashed? rimming the margin. Asci 300 x 25?. Spores elliptical and with a roughened exterior, containing several small oil droplets, 18?19 x 10?12?. Habitat on damp soil or rotten wood. Season late spring to late autumn. Common. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Schizophyllum commune Fr. Split-gill or Common Porecrust, Schizophylle commun, Gemeiner Spaltbl?ttling, Hasadtlemez? gomba, k?z?ns?ges hasadtlemez? gomba, Waaiertje. Cap 1?4cm across, fan-shaped, often lobed or fused with others, sessile or on a short stem-like base, densely covered in greyish-white down with a purplish tinge. Gills radiating from the point of attachment, splitting lengthwise and rolling back covering the space between the gills, and protecting the hymenium from desiccation. Spore print white. Spores cylindric, 6 x 3um. Habitat on dead wood of deciduous trees and also on cut timber. Season all year. Uncommon. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Sarcoscypha coccinea (Fr.) Lamb syn. Peziza coccinea Fr. Scharlachroter Kelchbecherling Piros cs?szegomba. Cup 1?5cm across, cup-shaped, the margin becoming tattered as it expands, attached to substrate by a short stalk, inner surface bright scarlet, outer whitish and covered in white matted tufted hairs. Asci 400 x 16?, not blued by iodine. Spores cylindric-ellipsoid containing several small oil droplets, 24?32 x 12?14?. Habitat gregarious, on dead wood. Season early winter to early spring. Frequent especially in the West. Edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Sarcodontia setosa (Pers.) Donk Fruit body 5-20cm across, forming crust-like spreading patches on the surface of logs; often stained with wine-red areas. Fertile surface bright yellow, formed of downward pointed teeth or spines 5-l0mm long. Odor strong, very sweet-fruity to unpleasant. Taste mild. Spores teardrop shape, smooth, 5-6 x 3.5-4?. Habitat on logs or standing wood of fruit trees, especially apples. Rather uncommon. Found widely distributed in North America. Season July-October. Not edible.

Rhodotus palmatus (Bull. ex Fr.) Maire syn. Pleurotus palmatus (Bull. ex Fr.) Qu-l. R-tlicher Adernseitling R-zs-s t-nkgomba. Cap 5-10cm across, convex then flattened, horizontal, clear pink at first later peach to apricot-coloured, distinctly wrinkled, margin inrolled; pellicle gelatinous, thick and tough, entirely separable. Stem 30-70 x 10-15mm, white to pinkish, covered in white fibrils, curved. Flesh whitish tinged pink to orange. Taste bitter, smell pleasant. Gills paler than the cap, interconnected. Spore print pinkish. Spores subglobose, finely warted, 5-7um in diameter. Habitat on elm logs or beams. Season early autumn to winter. At one time rare, but due to the abundance of dead elms now becoming quite frequent. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Ramaria stricta, Steife Koralle, Merev korallgomba. ---- Ramaria stricta grows from wood--though the wood is often buried. It features branches that are usually "strictly" oriented, so that they are mostly straight and ascending. When fresh, its branch tips are yellow and its branches are dull yellowish buff, but its surfaces bruise and discolor purplish brown. Under the microscope it features roughened spores, clamp connections, and thick-walled hyphae. Several very similar species have been separated by mycologists (see below), and the name Ramaria stricta should probably represent a group of potential species awaiting contemporary study. ---- Overall, the fruit body appears bushy, and is medium sized, up to 10 by 7 cm (3.9 by 2.8 in), ochraceous tinged with flesh-colour becoming darker or brownish cinnamon with age, tips of branches at first clear yellow then concolorous; All parts bruising vinaceous, stem arising from white mycellum or rhizomorphs, passing into numerous dichotomous branches. Flesh white or pale yellow, tough ( Whitish; fairly tough. ). Taste slightly peppery, smell sweet ( Odor not distinctive, or sweet and fragrant; taste bitter ). Spores cinnamon-ochraceous, oblong, minutely rough to almost smooth 7.5-10.5 x 3.5-5 µ ( Spore Print: Rusty yellowish ). Habitat on stumps of conifers and broad-leaved trees. Season late summer to winter. Uncommon. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. ---- Ecology: Uncertain; while most ramarias are thought to be mycorrhizal, the wood-inhabiting species could be mycorrhizal or saprobic; growing from the dead (but sometimes buried) wood of conifers (and sometimes hardwoods); appearing alone, scattered, or gregariously; early summer through fall; apparently widely distributed in North America, but more common from the Rocky Mountains westward. Branches: Vertically oriented and elongated; often flattened; smooth; yellowish buff, becoming orangish buff as the spores mature; bruising and discoloring purplish brown; tips yellow when fresh and young. Base: Nearly absent, or fairly well developed; to 2 cm wide; white below; colored like the branches above; attached to numerous white rhizomorphs. Chemical Reactions: Iron salts green on branches; KOH orangish to brownish on branches.

Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Karst. syn. Plyporus cinnabarina Jacq. ex Fr. syn. Trametes cinnabarinus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Fr. Cinnabar Polypore, Polypore ou Tram-te rouge cinabre, Zinnoberschwamm, Cin-bertapl-, Vermiljoenhoutzwam. Fruit body 3-11cm across, 2-8cm wide, 0.5-1.5cm thick, semicircular or fan-shaped, leathery becoming corky when dried; upper surface covered in fine soft hairs when young, later smooth and slightly wrinkled, bright red or orange-red becoming less bright with age. Tubes 2-6mm long, pale orange. Pores 2-3 per mm, circular or angular, cinnabar- or saffron-red. Spores white, oblong-ellipsoid, 4.5-6 x 2-2.5um. Hyphal structure trimitic. Habitat on dead deciduous trees, especially cherry, beech and birch. Season autumn. Very rare. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (Scop. ex Fr.) Karst. syn. Tremellodon gelatinosum (Scop. ex Fr.) Fr. Jelly Tongue, Tremellodon g?latineux, Tremelle g?latineuse, Gallertiger Zitterzahn, Kocsony?s ?lgereben, Eispilz, Stekeltrilzwam or IJszwammetje. Fruit body 2?6cm across, spatula-like or fan-shaped, gelatinous, bluish-grey becoming brownish, upper surface finely roughened or downy; lower surface covered in whitish spines 2?5mm long. Spores white, broadly ovate to subglobose, 5?7 x 5?. Basidia resembling a hot cross bun when seen from above. Habitat on conifer stumps. Season autumn. Uncommon. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Psathyrella hydrophila (Bull. ex M?rat) Maire syn. Hypholoma hydrophilum (Bull. ex M?rat) Qu?l. W?ssriger Saumilz Hypholome hydrophile Barna porhany?sgomba. Cap 2?3cm across, convex becoming flattened, tan to dark chestnut or date-brown drying paler often with a tan flush at the centre, margin appendiculate with remnants of the fibrillose veil. Stem 40?100 x 5?10mm, white flushed with cap colour below, fragile. Flesh thin, whitish. Taste bitter, smell not distinctive. Gills crowded, clay-brown becoming chocolate brown with age. Cystidia thin-walled, hyaline, fusiform. Spore print dark brown. Spores elliptic, 4.5?7 x 3?4um. Habitat in dense tufts in damp deciduous woodland. Season late spring to late autumn. Common. Edible ? bitter and not worthwhile -avoid. Distribution, America and Europe.

Psathyrella candolleana (Fr.) Maire. Pale Brittlestem, Behangener Faserling Hypholome de De Candolle, Feh?r porhany?sgomba. Cap 2?6cm across, bell-shaped becoming flattened, pale ochraceous-brown when moist drying almost white or flushed with brown, margin often appearing toothed with remnants of veil. Stem 40?80 x 4?8mm, white, hollow, fragile. Flesh thin, white. Taste and smell not distinctive. Gills greyish lilac darkening to chocolate brown. Cheilocystidia thin-walled, hyaline, finger-shaped or cylindric. Spore print dark brown. Spores elliptical or ovate, 6?8 x 3.5?4.5um. Habitat on or near deciduous trees, stumps or cut timbers. Season spring to late autumn. Frequent. Edibility unknown -avoid. Distribution, America and Europe.

Polyporus varius Pers. ex Fr. Ver-nderlicher Porling V-ltoz-kony likacsosgomba Polypore variable. Cap 1-10cm across, infundibuliform, or irregularly kidney-shaped, depressed above the point of attachment to the stem, wavy and often lobed at the margin, ochre-brown with fine radial lines becoming tobacco-brown with age. Stem 5-30 x 5-15mm, lateral or off-centre, the basal part brown-black. Flesh white when fresh, drying corky and cream-coloured, tough and leathery. Taste slightly bitter, smell faint and mushroomy. Tubes 0.5-2.5mm long, decurrent down the stem, white to cream. Pores 4-7 per mm, circular, white becoming ochraceous-brown. Spores white, ellipsoid to fusiform, 5-9 x 3-4um. Hyphal structure dimitic with generative and binding hyphae; generative hyphae with clamp connections. Habitat on dead or dying deciduous trees. Season late spring to autumn, annual. Occasional. Not edible. Found In Europe.