Newtown Common
Sun 6 May 2012
Cudoniella clavus
Photo © Stuart Skeates
Field event ID HF1203
OS Grid areas: SU4763
Weather: The previous few weeks had seen continuing and significant rainfull after a dry winter with both drought and flood warning in place.
New Records:
New to Hampshire: Ascobolus lignatilis
New to VC 12: Exidia saccharina
Report: It is extraordinary how often the carpark is the site of an interesting find and this week's foray proved no exception to the rule. Whilst Stuart, Eric and Alan were nattering and waiting for others to assemble Stuart picked up a fallen oak branch and whilst he was looking at one end Eric noticed some small bright lemon yellow cylindrical fruitbodies at the other end. Examination later that day failed to reveal any spores but by the following day little black ends of asci were emerging from the fruitbody. The microscope soon confirmed these to be an Ascobolus and after a bit of research for a key by van Brummelen and discussion on WAB it was decided the initial suggestion of Ascobolus lignatilis to be correct. Shortly after the start of the foray Alan found the uncommon exidia on pine - Exidia saccharina which seems to be the first record for VC12. Later on in the alder carr there were several patches of Cudoniella clavus, the big brother to the oak pin Cudoniella acicularis. JP reminded us there is an even bigger brother C clavus var. grandis which can be up to 2cm across.
Species list: Amylostereum laevigatum, Ascobolus lignatilis, Auricularia auricula-judae, Auriscalpium vulgare, Bisporella citrina, Calloria neglecta, Calocera pallidospathulata, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Colpoma quercinum, Cudoniella clavus, Dacrymyces stillatus, Dacryobolus karstenii, Diatrypella quercina, Exidia saccharina, Fuscoporia ferrea, Gloeocystidiellum porosum, Gloeoporus taxicola, Hapalopilus nidulans, Hemimycena tortuosa, Hyaloscypha hyalina, Hymenochaete corrugata, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Hyphodontia nespori, Hyphodontia pallidula, Hypoxylon cercidicola, Hypoxylon petriniae, Lachnum niveum, Lachnum virgineum, Leptosphaeria acuta, Mensularia radiata, Mitrula paludosa, Peniophora quercina, Peniophorella praetermissa, Phanerochaete velutina, Phragmidium violaceum, Piptoporus betulinus, Polydesmia pruinosa, Polyporus tuberaster, Rhopographus filicinus, Schizopora paradoxa, Skeletocutis vulgaris, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum sanguinolentum, Strobilurus tenacellus, Tapesia fusca, Trametes versicolor, Trichaptum abietinum, Trichoderma pulvinatum, Trochila ilicina, Uromyces muscari, Vuilleminia comedens, Xylaria hypoxylon