Specimen #5 Puffball

Figure 1: Lycoperdon perlatum releasing spores at Chagrin Reservation

Name:Lycoperdon perlatum, Common Puffball

Family: Agaricaceae

Collection Date: September 12, 2011

Habitat: Shaded woods upon leafy litter

Location: South Chagrin Reservation

Description: Round and coarse, about 4 inches in diameter.  Open at top, releasing olive colored dusty spores when squeezed. This specimen is aged, as it is releasing spores.

Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.

Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi

1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)

...p.54; Fruiting body round to oval or pearshaped, or the outer skin splitting into starlike rays; interior (spore mass) firm when young but powdery or dusty at maturity; spores borne inside a spore case or numerous lentil-like capsules; stalk absent or present only as a narrowed sterile base or rootlike fibers; usually growing above the ground...Puffballs and Earthstars, p. 677

Key to the Lycoperdales and Allies, p. 679:

1. Not as above (fruiting body may rupture in starlike fashion, but if so then there is no separate spore case within)...2

2. Spore mass non containing peridoles...4

4. Peridoles absent, spores produces in a single large chamber (the spore case)...5

5. skin (peridium) thick or thin; spore mass white when young and normally softening or becoming mushy as it darkens, then becoming powdery; basidia usually borne in a hymenium; capillitium usually present...6

6. Fruiting body not thick skinned, not rupturing, usually underground...7

7. Spore mass without prominent veins or cords running through it...8

8. Typically growing in woods...11

11. Spines absent...13

13. Not only in Pacific and Northwest...14

14. Mature spore mass olive to brown...L. perlatum, p. 693

Links:

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

http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Lycoperdon_perlatum.html

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6356.asp

http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Lycoperdon-perlatum.htm

Specimen #4 Bird's Nest Fungus

Figure 1: Crucibulum laeve at Hiram College.  Mature on left, immature on right.

Name: Crucibulum laeve; Common Bird's Nest Fungus

Family: Nidulariaceae
Collection Date: August 29, 2011
Habitat: Mulch under tree
Location: Hiram College
Description: Small cups containing small peridoles.  Adhered to mulch.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.


Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)

...p.54; fruiting body minute (often less than 1cm broad), shaped like a miniature bird's nest with one or more small "eggs" inside (but top of "nest" often covered by a layer of tissue when young...Bird's Nest Fungi, p. 778

Key to Nidulariales, p. 779:

1. Fruiting body cylindrical to mug- or cup-shaped when mature, containing more than one egg (unless all but one have been expelled)...2

2. Fruiting body typically with a "lid" when very young, the nest usually well formed and persistent; eggs may or may not be imbedded in a mucilage...4

4. Eggs white to gray, brown or black, often (but not always) attached to the side of the nest by a minute cord or short stalk, not imbedded in a mucilage; sides of nest vertical to tapered...6

6. Interior of nest smooth or at least not striate or grooved...7

7. Eggs typically white to buff; interior of nest not black...Crucibulum laeve

Links:

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

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5881.asp

http://www.messiah.edu/Oakes/fungi_on_wood/bird's%20nest%20fungi/species%20pages/Crucibulum%20laeve.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron/GASTEROS/crucibul.htm

Specimen #3 Coral Fungus

Figure 1: Ramaria fennica on soil at Chagrin Reservation

Name: Ramaria fennica
Family: Clavariaceae
Collection Date: September 12, 2011
Habitat: Shaded woods on damp ground, near tree
Location: South Chagrin Reservation
Description: Profusely branching tan coral fungus, somewhat medium sized, thick, and tough. Slight violet tinge at base.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.


Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)
...p.53; Fruiting body erect, unbranched (clublike) or profusely branched from a common base or "trunk" (coral-like); cap absent; spores borne on the smooth to slightly wrinkled surfaces of the upright clubs or branches...Coral and Club Fungi, p. 630


Key to Clavariaceae, p. 630:
1. Fruiting body profusely branched from a stalk or common base...4
4. Common; fruiting body not small and tough with very thin, almost hairlike branches, brown to grayish-brown to dark brown or purple-brown; growing on twigs, needles, etc.; rare (mostly tropical)...5
5. Fruiting body not consisting of numerous flattened, wavy, ribbonlike, or leafy segments or lobes arising from a common base; rather tough; overall color white to creamy, yellowish, or tan; growing near or at the bases of trees and stumps...7
7. Fruiting body not bright yellow to orange; spore print white or if not then branches usually viscid; spores smooth; typically growing on wood...8
8. Branch tips not crownlike (in the form of small fringed cups); spore print white; growing on wood...9
9. Fruiting body not bright yellow to orange when fresh and small (typically 2-7cm high)...11
11. Branches not tough, usually flattened, grayish-brown to dark brown to purple-brown (but tips often pallid when growing); odor typically garliclike or fetid...12
12. Spore print creamy to yellow, tan, yellow-orange, or ochraceous (rarely white); fruiting body medium-sized to fairly large, often brightly colored, or if dull colored then usually with a large fleshy base (stalk); fertile surfaces staining greenish to blue in ferrous sulfate...Ramaria, p.645

Key to Ramaria, p. 646:
1. growing on ground (or occasionally on very rotten wood)...5
5. Fruiting body medium-sized to large; mycelial mat absent, or if present then not as above (sometimes tough and pliant but usually fleshier)...8
8. Flesh in base of stalk not rusty to rusty-brown when cut open lengthwise...11
11. Branches darker or more bightly colored when young and fresh or tips yellow or flesh gelatinous or semi-gelatinous...12
12. Odor not fragrant, like cocoa butter...13
13. Branches dingy-colored (yellow-brown to olive-brown or olive-gray, etc.) with a distinct violet tinge to lowermost ones (when fresh) and/or upper stalk; base (stalk) usually well-developed and fleshy...R. fennica, p. 650


Links:
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/ramaria_fennica.html
http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Link=T&Rec=356844
http://mushroomobserver.org/15546
http://www.mycokey.com/MycoKeySolidState/species/Ramaria_fennica.html

Specimen #2 Coral Fungus

Figure 1: Lentaria byssiseda at Chagrin Reservation; mycelial threads visible.

Name: Lentaria byssiseda
Family: Clavariaceae
Collection Date: September 12, 2011
Habitat: Shaded woods on damp ground, near tree
Location: South Chagrin Reservation
Description: Profusely branching white coral fungus, relatively small and tough, mycelial threads going into ground.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield

Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.


Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)
...p.53; Fruiting body erect, unbranched (clublike) or profusely branched from a common base or "trunk" (coral-like); cap absent; spores borne on the smooth to slightly wrinkled surfaces of the upright clubs or branches...Coral and Club Fungi, p. 630


Key to Clavariaceae, p. 630:
1. Fruiting body profusely branched from a stalk or common base...4
4. Common; fruiting body not small and tough with very thin, almost hairlike branches, brown to grayish-brown to dark brown or purple-brown; growing on twigs, needles, etc.; rare (mostly tropical)...5
5. Fruiting body not consisting of numerous flattened, wavy, ribbonlike, or leafy segments or lobes arising from a common base; rather tough; overall color white to creamy, yellowish, or tan; growing near or at the bases of trees and stumps...7
7. Fruiting body not bright yellow to orange; spore print white or if not then branches usually viscid; spores smooth; typically growing on wood...8
8. Branch tips not crownlike (in the form of small fringed cups); spore print white; growing on wood...9
9. Fruiting body not bright yellow to orange when fresh and small (typically 2-7cm high)...11
11. Branches not tough, usually flattened, grayish-brown to dark brown to purple-brown (but tips often pallid when growing); odor typically garliclike or fetid...12
12. Spore print creamy to yellow, tan, yellow-orange, or ochraceous (rarely white); fruiting body medium-sized to fairly large, often brightly colored, or if dull colored then usually with a large fleshy base (stalk); fertile surfaces staining greenish to blue in ferrous sulfate...Ramaria, p.645


Key to Ramaria, p. 646:
1. growing on ground (or occasionally on very rotten wood)...5
5. Fruiting body pliant and rather tough, small or medium-sized (rarely taller than 10cm); stalk or "trunk" slender to practically absent, with a mat of conspicuous white mycelial threads attached to the base and/or permeating the substrate...6
6. Spore print whitish; fruiting body creamy to pinkish-tan to yellowish, sometimes with greenish tips; often found near wood or lignin-rich humus...Lentaria byssiseda and L. pinicola (see Ramaria stricta, p. 648)


Links:
http://www.wisconsinmushrooms.com/Lentariabyssiseda.html
http://mushroomobserver.org/name/show_name?_js=on&_new=true&id=1055
http://www.globalspecies.org/ntaxa/1813319
http://www.mycokey.com/MycoKeySolidState/species/Lentaria_byssiseda.html

Specimen #1 Coral Fungus

Figure 1: Clavulinopsis fusiformis at Chagrin Reservation

Name: Clavulinopsis fusiformis; Golden Fairy Club
Family: Clavariaceae
Collection Date: September 12, 2011
Habitat: Shaded woods on damp, mossy ground
Location: South Chagrin Reservation
Description: Bright yellow, unbranched coral fungus, somewhat tall (over 5 cm).  Lost color and size as it dried out, becoming pale and thin.
Collector: Taylor Summerfield


Key used: Arora, David, 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd Edition, Ten Speed Press, New York, New York.


Key Steps: Key to the Major Groups of Fleshy Fungi
1. Spores produced on mother cells called basidia; fruiting body variously shaped (see pp.52-54)
...p.53; Fruiting body erect, unbranched (clublike) or profusely branched from a common base or "trunk" (coral-like); cap absent; spores borne on the smooth to slightly wrinkled surfaces of the upright clubs or branches...Coral and Club Fungi, p. 630


Key Steps:Coral and Club Fungi, p630
1. Fruiting body unbranched or very sparsely branched (but often tufted or clustered)...2
2. May be white, but if so not powdery; spores borne on basidia...3
3. Fruiting body typically fragile or if tough then much smaller; mostly less than 7mm thick; apex acute or blunt or occasionally enlarged...Clavaria and Allies, p.634


Key to Clavaria and Allies p634:
1. Not growing on algae...2
2. Fresh fruiting body yellow to orange, red, salmon, or pink...3
3. Fresh fruiting body yellow to orange...4
4. Fruiting body unbranched or occasionally forked (but often clustered)...6
6. Fruiting body typically clublike to spindle-shaped or fingerlike or rarely forked; usually rather fragile; spores borne on basidia...7
7. Fruiting bodies 5-15cm tall, usually growing in bundles or large clusters...Clavulinopsis fusiformis

Links:
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/clavulinopsis_fusiformis.html
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5768.asp
http://americanmushrooms.com/taxa/Clavulinopsis_fusiformis_05.htm
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/hall/fusiform.html