Tony Hardware's Fungi Finds: FEBRUARY 2024 - Uncommon to rare species identified this month. There's plenty out there ....!

This month I spent some time culturing dung species, as what isn't better when it's pouring with rain outside and you are still seeing and identifying extraordinary fungi! Add to this that I wanted to study some unusual species of animal and the target this month would be Wild Boar. I can't imagine this animal's dung is studied often, for some obvious reasons, but I had a good reason to do so as last year I still feel I found Coprotus arduennensis, which is only found on Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) but this time on Fallow deer. I also examined dung of Sheep, these being from the most wonderful and good-looking sheep I have ever come across. So maybe good species are attracted! These were Zwartbles sheep, a Dutch variety, a picture of which is included here. I also had Horse (last month) and Rabbit results also. Lots of interesting species, so if your spouse is willing to put up with culturing experiments going on in the house then this is a natural winter occupation for any field mycologist. In no particular order as usual I'll start with the species found on Boar. Although I found this recently on Horse dung, Ascobolus crenulatus this time showed after an 8 day culture with its incredible lined violet pink spores which always help confirm these species. This being 2nd for the County (after my first!). The tiny Coprinellus pellucidus isn't that uncommon, but added here as it was on Boar and is just very beautiful. The best result came in another Coprotus, not the one I was seeking, but was still only six other UK records, with being 1st for County, in Coprotus aurora. This was very small, only 0.3mm across when mature and after a 11 day wait I was able to identify this amazing species. Pilobolus umbonatus was found also, although macro wise looks just the same as the 1000's of Pilobolus fungi you will see on dung every time after a few days. This was seen at first in the immature state which helped. 1st Gloucs. So along with others these finds were exciting and well worth the effort of visiting The Forest of Dean, with thanks also to Tony Fielding of Gloucs. Nat. Soc who showed me some viable Boar habitat. Fortunately, with no live Boar in attendance. Onto Sheep dung. Less species but again interesting things pop up! Ascobolus denudatus shovelled it way through and became the 3rd record for the County. An unusual anamorph of Peziza vesiculosa, (normally found on wood chip, etc) was found in Oedocephalum pallidum. Obviously one of the sheep likes a bit of cup fungi occasionally or was just caught up in the grass at the time. 1st record for Gloucs. The very small ascomycete Schizothecium hispidulum was found growing also, an unusual ascomycete with what the appendages do with the spores tend to help ID these species which need a magnifying glass very close to the dung to lD. As do most of these species. I always wear a mask in case my nose is bigger than my brain, and the spore output and so intake is at a minimum, not that should be an issue. This was after a 14 day culture, so took some time. Some folks wait months, however that is prone to attract insect life and best avoided. Lastly on Sheep, I found Thelebolus caninus growing, This would be only the 4th UK record for this species, 1st for Gloucs, and is unusual it that is has 32 spored asci. First I have seen of this type of ascus/spore ratio. The last dung species arrived as Coprotus ochraceus this time on Rabbit pellets after 8 days. Other fungi this month included Jackrogesella multiformis, 1st for Gloucs., and Stomiopeltis betulae at Rudgers Hill, both on Betula, the latter 2nd for County record. Out early as well as uncommon I came across a basidiomycete in Pholiotina aporos which had been fooled by the warm February and appeared by the side of a footpath. 4th record in Gloucs, oddly behind two others of mine found last year in the Spring, when it is expected to fruit. During an awayday visit to Lincolnshire Wildlife Park I collected a Mollisia species which I still cannot ID. It was growing on a decorative Agave plant in the Puma section! Near enough for me to find on a dead stem. I'll keep trying but if it's a substrate specific species then I had better get a book on Mexican fungi. Also found at Climperwell near a stream was a rare parasitic fungus growing on a myxomycete Trichia affinis and called Polycephalomyces tomentosus, with few other Gloucs records. Protounguicularia barbata was a surprise when examined as being only the 4th county record. An unusual species with glass like hair margins. Both of the last two species were found at Huddingknoll Hill, just outside Stroud. So enough for this month. A happy month, and it was February!