After the thaw

[goosey]

With yet more snow on the ground and ages to the morel season, I was wondering what sort of cap fungi I should be looking out for once it thaws?

Does fungi actually carry on growing in these conditions or is it all there in hiding and I just can't see it?

[The Woodman]

Have just come back from a visit to the woods and have photo'd some nice young Scarlet Elf Cup growing on a hazel branch. This fungi will have been under a foot of snow two weeks ago depending on how fast it grows.

[Cybershot]

Yes there are caps, cups and crusts to be found now. Yesterday on Yateley Common, Hampshire UK I found Chondrostereum purpureum - Silverleaf Fungus, Lenzites betulnus - Birch Mazegill, Auricularia auricula-judae -Jelly Ear, and Flammulina velutipes - Velvet Shank which, according to Roger Phillips, survives being frozen and produces spores again when thawed.



Sarcoscypha austriaca - Scarlet Elfcup first appeared back in mid December and having survived under the snow of the big freeeze is now showing in various locations locally and nationwide.

[goosey]

Thanks Woodman and David.
The Scarlet Elfcup is one I would like to see, I haven't come across any in the couple of years I have been interested in fungi and is the most exciting thing on the short list I could hope to find .
The snow has gone and it is raining so hopefully if I get out on Monday there will be some fungi about for me!

[The Woodman]

This is weird.

I've downloaded an image of Scarlet Elf Cup to WATW Gallery and want to drop it into this post just to sandwich goosey between bright cheerful fungi!

I click on My Gallery photos just above these words and it takes me to My Gallery in WAB, ""Home>>Members Galleries>>holmerichard"" same with MY Images??

I know it's Friday afternoon and I might be a little jaded but this seems to more than odd.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

This is weird.

I've downloaded an image of Scarlet Elf Cup to WATW Gallery and want to drop it into this post just to sandwich goosey between bright cheerful fungi!

I click on My Gallery photos just above these words and it takes me to My Gallery in WAB, ""Home>>Members Galleries>>holmerichard"" same with MY Images??

I know it's Friday afternoon and I might be a little jaded but this seems to more than odd.

Here is your image, I wonder why that happened .
I just copied and pasted the linked thumbnail code as usual.

Great image and what a great colour to cheer up a grey day!

[bulbosa]

This is one I am hoping to find this year

Mal

[Cybershot]

Not surprised to see such species as Stereum hirsutum and Lenzites Betulinus* still thriving after our extended cold snap but amazed to see the following tiny caps which were around before the snow arrived in mid December and which I found again after the thaw at the end of January (as per images below).



Possibly Omphalina pyxidata and Tubaria hiemalis

(* no image available because, as of this morning, I now have the dreaded image queue and 'fatal error' message on trying to upload photos)

[goosey]

I got out for a while today, most of the snow had gone after rain yesterday though there was still pockets of ice and snow around in more sheltered areas.

Flammulina velutipes seem to be everywhere in vaious stages (my favourite stage has to be the "tinned peach" look!)

There were two clusters of oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus and Panellus serotinus which I had seen 04-12-2009 and 10-12-2009 respectively and they both looked in rather good condition all this time on!

The only other thing I saw which wasn't a "usual suspect" was a single Polyporus brumalis - Winter polypore, I last saw them in 27-11-2009 in this location.

No sign of Scarlet Elfcaps though!

[Cybershot]

Wishing Shirley and Mal every success in their quest for Scarlet Elfcup

[Cybershot]

The fruiting bodies of Auricularia mesenterica - Tripe Fungus (said to favour stumps and logs of Elm) are crust-like rather than ear-shaped with the underside being gelatinous, rubbery,coarsley and irregularly wrinkled:



The more familiar form of Auricularia auricula-judae - Jelly Ear:

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Cybershot

The more familiar form of Auricularia auricula-judae - Jelly Ear:

I think these have taken all the weather has thrown at them very well. I am sure those I have seen this last week have been larger than other years, also very numerous.