Lateral Mushrooms identifications

Tuber aestivum Vitt. Summer Truffle, Truffe de ?t?, Truffe de la Saint-Jean, Sommertr?ffel, Ny?ri szarvasgomba, Tartufo d'estate, tartufo nero d'estate, tartufo nero nostrale, Zommertruffel. Fruit body 3?14cm across, globose, covered in pyramidal warts, blackish brown. Flesh whitish becoming marbled grey-brown. Taste nutty, smell sweet. Spores ovoid, reticulate, 20?40 x 15?30um. Habitat buried usually near beech on calcareous soil. Season late summer to autumn. Rare. Edible ? good. Found In Europe.

Tricholomopsis rutilans (Schaeff. ex Fr.) Sing. syn. Tricholoma rutilans (Schaeff. ex Fr.) Kummer. Plums and Custard, Tricolome rutilant, Pleurote rutilant, R?tlicher Holzritterling, B?rsonyos pereszke (fapereszke), Agarico rutilante, Koningsmantel. Cap 4?12cm across, convex to bell-shaped when expanded often with a low broad umbo, yellow densely covered in reddish-purple downy tufts or scales, more densely covered at the centre. Stem 35?55 x 10?15mm, yellow covered in fine downy purplish scales like the cap but to a much lesser extent; no mycelial strands. Flesh pale yellow or cream. Taste watery, smell like rotten wood. Gills rich egg-yellow. Cheilocystidia thin-walled, voluminous, 20?30um wide. Spore print white. Spores ellipsoid, 6?8.5 x 4?5um. Habitat on and around conifer stumps. Season late summer to late autumn. Very common. Considered edible by some but not recommended. Distribution, America and Europe.

Tricholoma psammopus (Kalchbr.) Qu?l. Schwammiger Ritterling, V?r?sfeny? pereszke, Larix-ridderzwam, Larch Knight. Cap 3?8cm across, convex then expanded, yellowish-brown to pale tan. Stem 40?80 x 10?15mm, apex whitish, becoming densely covered in minute reddish-brown cottony scales towards the base. Flesh yellowish-brown. Taste bitter, smell none. Gills white at first then straw-yellow becoming rust-spotted. Spore print white. Spores 6?7 x 4?5um. Habitat under larch. Season autumn. Uncommon. Not edible. Found In Europe.

Trichoglossum hirsutum (Pers. ex Fr.) Boud. Hairy Earthtongue. Fruit body 2?8cm high, 0.3?0.8cm wide, black, fertile head varying from flattened-cylindric to more club-shaped tapering into the slender compressed, velvety stalk. Asci 220 x 20?. Setae projecting between the asci numerous, thick-walled, black, stiff and pointed. Spores brown, subcylindric, 100?150 x 6?7?, fifteen-septate at maturity. Habitat in grassland or amongst sphagnum on acid solid. Season late summer to autumn. Occasional. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. Trichoglossum hirsutum var. capitatum Trichoglossum hirsutum var. capitatum (Pers. ex Fr.) Boud. Differing from T. hirsutum only in the distinctly spade-shaped fertile head, identical in all other respects. Found In Europe.

Trichaptum biforme (Fr. in Klotzch) Ryv. Bracket 1-8cm across, semicircular, fan-shaped, flat; color variable in concentric zones, ochre to dark brown, white to grayish, brownish or black, violet margins; hairy becoming smooth. Tubes 1-l0mm deep. Pores 2-5 per mm, angular, becoming tooth-like; white to brownish with mauve tinge and mauve along the margin. No stem. Flesh 0.5-1.5cm thick; white to yellow. Spores cylindrical, smooth, 5-6.5 x 2-2.5?. Deposit white. Habitat numerous, single, or overlapping caps on dead stumps of trees of deciduous wood, reducing them to sawdust. Very common. Found widely distributed throughout North America. Season May-December, but often persisting all year. Not edible.

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.

Thelephora terrestris (Ehrh.) Fr. Earthfan, T?l?phore terrestre, Erdledepilz, Talajlak? szem?lcsgomba (szem?lcs?sgomba), Franjezwam. Fruit body 3?6cm across, fan-shaped, vertical to horizontal, forming large clustered groups, reddish- to chocolate-brown, darkening to almost black with age, covered in radiating fibres, becoming paler and fringed at the margin. Lower or fertile surface clay-brown to pallid, irregularly wrinkled. Spores purple-brown, angular and warted, 8?9 x 6?7?. Habitat in conifer woods or heaths, usually on sandy soil. Season late summer to early winter. Common. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

Thelephora palmata (Scop.) Fr. Stinkende Lederkoralle B?d?s szem?lcs?sgomba (szem?lcsgomba), b?d?s b?r-korallgomba. Fruit body 2?5cm high, 1?3cm across, comprising several erect, flattened, palmate purple-brown branches arising from a common stem 10?15 x 2?5mm. Flesh leathery. Smell fetid or strongly of garlic. Spores reddish-brown, angular and spiny, 8?11 x 7?8?. Habitat on the ground near conifers. Season late summer to late autumn. Rare. Easily recognized by the strong smell. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.

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.

Scleroderma verrucosum (Bull.) Pers. Braunwarziger Kartoffelbovist, Nyeles ?ltrifla, Scl?roderme verruqueux, Scaly Earthball. Fruit body 2.5?5cm across, subglobose often flattened on top, tapering into a long, thick stem-like base which is usually prominently ribbed, yellowish to brown covered in small brownish scales, the thin leathery wall breaking open irregularly above when mature. Gleba olive-brown. Spores dark brown, globose covered in spines or warts, 10?14um in diameter. Habitat on sandy soil in woods or heaths. Season summer to late autumn. Occasional. Not edible. Found In Europe.

Scleroderma citrinum Pers. syn. S. aurantium (Vaill.) Pers. syn. S. vulgare Horn. Common Earthball, cl-roderme vulgaire, Scl-roderme orang-, Kartoffelbovist, R-t (k-z-ns-ges) -ltrifla, Scleroderma commune, tartufo falso, Aardappelbovist. Fruit body 2-10cm across, subglobose, attached to the substrate by cord-like mycelial threads, wall dirty yellow to ochre-brown, thick and tough, coarsely scaly, breaking open irregularly to liberate the spores. Gleba purplish-black at first patterned by whitish veins, powdery when mature. Spores brown, globose, with a net-like ornamentation, 9-13m in diameter. Habitat on mossy or peaty ground on heaths or in rich woodland, especially on sandy soil. Season late summer to early winter. Common. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. This species is sometimes parasitized by Boletus parasiticus.

Scleroderma cepa (Vaill.) Pers. Fruit body 1.5-9cm across, subglobose, flattened, or lobed; no stem or almost none, attached by a thick mass of tough, hairy mycelium. Peridium (outer skin) 1-3mm thick; when fresh, hard, quite tough; white in cross-section, becoming reddish or pinkish brown when cut. Surface whitish when young, becoming straw-colored to yellowish brown or leather brown, turning deep pinky-brown if rubbed; smooth becoming very finely cracked and scaly, especially on the top where exposed to light. Spore mass white and firm when young, soon becoming black or purple-black, then paler or browner and powdery. Odor none. Spores globose, spiny but not reticulate, 7-10 x 7-10-. Habitat singly, scattered, or in groups under deciduous and coniferous trees in woods, in gardens, and along roadsides. Common. Found widely distributed in North America. Season July-October. Poisonous.

Scleroderma areolatum Ehr. syn. S. lycoperdoides Schwein. Netzbovist Pikkelyes (leop-rd) -ltrifla Leopard Earthball. Fruit body 1-3(4)cm across, subglobose, tapering into a thick rooting stalk which passes into a few strong mycelial strands, yellowish-brown covered in smooth very dark scales surrounded by a ring giving a dotted, reticulate pattern when the scales have been worn off, opening by an irregular slit or pore. Gleba deep purplish-brown. Spores dark brown, globose, 9-14m in diameter, covered in spines 1.5m long. Habitat damp places on bare ground or amongst sparse grass or moss. Season autumn. Occasional. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe.