Specimen #15

Lycoperdales - The true puffballs

Firgure 1: Lycoperdon pyriforme.

Figure 2: Lycoperdon pyriforme.
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morganella_pyriformis.html

Name: Lycoperdon pyriforme previously called Morganella pyriformis
Common Name: Pear-shaped puffball

Family: Lycoperdaceae

Collection Date: 4th Oct. 2011 

Habitat: Found growing in clusters beneath some trees.    

Location: West Woods Park
Description: Fruiting bodies white in colour and soft to the touch and pear-shaped. When cut open spore mass in white.  

Collector: Olivia Benjamin

Key used: Orson K. Miller Jr. 1977. Mushrooms of North America. E.P. Dutton New York.
Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 298.

1b. Yound puffball cut shows white firm fleshy spore mass (gleba) and usually thin outer skin...5

5b. Pear-shaped with base, less than 7cm thick...16

16a. Outer skin light brown, smoothor with a few hairs, in clusters on wood---> 364. L. pyriforme.

Ecology: This fungus is saprobic on dead wood of hardwoods and conifers. They usually grow in clusters during fall and winter. They are also very widely distributed and common throughout North America  (Kuo, 2008).

Kuo, M. (2008 November). Morganella pyriformis. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morganella_pyriformis.html

Links
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morganella_pyriformis.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoperdon_pyriforme

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6358.asp

Specimen #14

Earth Tongues & Other Ascomycetes

Figure 1: Xylosphaera polymorpha.

Figure 2: Up close picture of Xylosphaera polymorpha.

Name: Xylosphaera polymorpha 
Common Name: Dead Man's Finger

Family: Xylariaceae

Collection Date: 4th Oct. 2011 

Habitat: Found growing along the trail in some soil.    

Location: West Woods Park
Description: Fruiting bodies spherical and black in colour and at various lengths. Fruiting body hard, not very soft and club-like. 

Collector: Olivia Benjamin

Key used: Orson K. Miller Jr. 1977. Mushrooms of North America. E.P. Dutton New York.
Keying Steps:

Figure 3: Xylosphaera polymorpha. found on rotting wood.

Introduction Key pg. 341.

1a. Fruiting body with stalk and head...2

2b. Head variously shaped but not cup-shaped...3

3b. If flattened not yellow...4

4b. Head round, depressed, or cylindrical...5

5b. Not green...6

6a. Fruiting body branched...7

7a. On wood, black, irregular with finger-like clubs--->412. X. polymorhpa

Ecology: This fungus is saprobic. Usually found growing on rotting tree stumps and they can grow in clusters.

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria_polymorpha

http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/xylaria-polymorpha.html

Specimen #13

The Teeth Fungi - Hydnaceae





Figure 1: Hericium coralloides found growing on decaying log.







Figure 2: Small section of Hericium coralloides that was collected from larger fungi (fig. 1).



 

Name: Hericium coralloides 

Common Name: Comb Tooth Fungi

Family: Hericiaceae  

Collection Date: 4th Oct. 2011 

Habitat: Found on fallen decaying log on a hillside.    

Location: West Woods Park
Description: Very large fungi, in one big cluster about 1 foot or more across. Removed small part of fungi for collection. Fungi white, with tooth-like projections on each branch. "Teeth" of fungi hanging straight down.   

Collector: Olivia Benjamin

Figure 3: Hericium coralloides.

Key used: Orson K. Miller Jr. 1977. Mushrooms of North America. E.P. Dutton New York.
Keying Steps:

Introduction Key pg. 282 Hdynaceae.

1a. Cap absent; fruiting body with long white, delicate hanging teeth...2

2b. Multiple branches with long spines...4
4a. Teeth hanging only from branch tips---> 332. H. coralloides

Ecology: This fungus is saprobic and possibly parasitic. They can grow alone or in clusters, usually on fallen hardwood branches. They grow throughout late summer and fall. They are widely distributed and very common throughout North America (Kuo, 2003). 

Kuo, M. (2003, October). Hericium coralloides. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hericium_coralloides.html


Links
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hericium_coralloides.html

http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/teeth%20and%20spine/species%20pages/Hericium%20coralloides.htm

Specimen #12

Gilled Mushrooms - Basidiomycetes

Figure 1: Picture showing underneath cap of Corprinus comatus and inky-like liquid.  

Figure 2: Cap of Corprinus comatus showing up-curled edges and brown scales on top of cap.

Name: Corprinus comatus 
Common Name: Shaggy Mane

Family: Agaricaeace  

Collection Date: 29th Sept. 2011 

Habitat: Found in clusters underneath some pine trees.    

Location: Hiram College Campus

Description: Large cap about 2-3 inches across, white with brown scales on cap and the edges of the cap curled up. Underneath cap very black which gives off ink-like liquid.  

Collector: Olivia Benjamin

Key used: Orson K. Miller Jr. 1977. Mushrooms of North America. E.P. Dutton New York.
Keying Steps:

Figure 3: Corprinus comatus.

Introduction Key pg. 170 Corprinaeace.

1b. Cap coloured or coloured with scales...3

3b. Cap large (2-8cm broad, 3-12cm tall, conic, wrinkled margins)...7
7a. Cap narrowly conic, white, brown scales---> 188. C. comatus

Ecology: This fungus is saprobic. They can grow alone or in clusters and grow throughout summer and fall. They are widely distributed throughout North America (Kuo, 2008). 

Kuo, M. (2008, February). Coprinus comatus: The shaggy mane. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus_comatus.html


Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprinus_comatus

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus_comatus.html