Strumpshaw Fen Slime Moulds & Fungi – 28th July 2024

2 August 2024

EDIT – 6th October 2024
I’ve edited the section on Artomyces pyxidatus to reflect my daughter’s re-examination of the coral fungus that she found during her 2023 mycological survey of Strumpshaw Fen
END OF EDIT

We didn’t get to visit Strumpshaw Fen much in July — a family holiday and a DofE expedition got in the way.

Not much in the way of fungi or slime moulds on this day.

Some mature and some mouldy Stemonitis, some Hemitrichia and Arcyria cinerea, some Scutellinia (eyelash fungus) in the woodland area between the bench and the railway line at the end of the drainage channel and our first sighting of the year of Scleroderma citrinum (common earthball) — the photos of which were not great

Near Basecamp we spotted an old pseudoaethalium spore mass most likely Tubifera ferruginosa.

Probably Tubifera ferruginosa spore mass pseudoaethalium
Near Basecamp – 28th July 2024

On the log at Basecamp where we often find slime moulds and last year where we saw some Artomyces pyxidatus (daughter’s 2023 mycological survey at the reserve) — more A. pyxidatus – the crown-tipped coral.

Artomyces pyxidatus
Basecamp – 28th July 2024

When she first spotted this fungus in September 2023, the daughter did think that it could be Artomyces pyxidatus but was persuaded it was likely Ramaria stricta.

However, R. stricta is typically found growing on the ground, albeit from buried wood [1] — these specimens (and the ones last year) are growing from a log off the ground and have the key distinguishing feature of A. pyxidatus — the crown-like tips on the branches of the fungus.

Artomyces pyxidatus
Basecamp – 28th July 2024

The new Cyathus striatus (Fluted Bird’s Nest) sporocarps that we saw earlier on 9th June were fully opened — some still containing peridioles (“eggs”).

Open Cyathus striatus sporocarps
Strumpshaw Fen – 28th July 2024

Opposite the Outpost on a stump that has had previous Fuligo septica this year — two small older aethalia.

Two Fuligo septica aethalia
Opposite The Outpost – 28th July 2024

And on the fallen trunk next to the stump, a younger aethalium (above the lens attachment).

Fuligo septica aethalium
Opposite The Outpost – 28th July 2024

Close up.

Fuligo septica aethalium
Opposite The Outpost – 28th July 2024

And at the end of the trunk on a separate log (probably broken off from the trunk) — a Reticularia lycoperdon (false puffball) aethalium.

Reticularia lycoperdon aethalium
Opposite The Outpost – 28th July 2024
Reticularia lycoperdon aethalium
Opposite The Outpost – 28th July 2024

Towards the end of the Woodland Trail another Fuligo septica aethalium with some white translucent hypothallus visible around the the twig.

Fuligo septica aethalium
Trail End – 28th July 2024

[1] https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ramaria-stricta.php