Fern mystery - Forum ASCOFrance

25-03-2026 22:23

Orbilia with resin deposits

Marc Detollenaere

Dear Forum,On a debarked stem of Tilia, we found s

25-03-2026 20:53

Didymopsis helvellae on Helvella?

François Bartholomeeusen

Dear forum members,On 23 March 2026, I found sever

23-03-2026 20:16

Coprotus 210226 315

Miguel Ángel Ribes

Good eveningI'm unable to identify this Coprotus o

24-03-2026 15:44

Leptodontidium cf. trabinellum

Åge Oterhals

I hope someone can confirm the name of this collec

25-03-2026 15:06

Hyaloscypha albohyalina à confirmer

Bernard CLESSE

Bonjour à toutes et tous,Pourriez-vous me confirm

25-03-2026 10:35

Encoelia impudicella?

Hulda Caroline Holte

Hello,I collected this species growing on a dead b

25-03-2026 13:54

Litterature on Eutypa

Enrique Rubio

Does anyone know where I could download Paoletti's

25-03-2026 15:46

Schizoxylon ou proche

Michel Hairaud

Bonjour, Je sollicite de l'aide pour cette récol

24-03-2026 19:59

Sclerotinia binucleata?

William Slosse

Hello everyone,On 23/03/26, I found the following

21-03-2026 15:13

MYXOMYCETICOLOUS FUNGI

Lepista Zacarias

Hello everyone, Does any one know of any literatu

« < 1 2 3 4 5 > »

Fern mystery

Chris Yeates, 02-06-2021 20:41

Bonsoir tous

After 40 years of looking at fungi it is quite unusual these days that I come across a fungus which completely confuses me; even if I often seem to collect enough "puzzles" I am usually able to surmise at least an order.

This was spotted in the field, small pyramidal black structures on a short length of a dead Athyrium filix-femina stem.I hope the pictures show features which will not require explanation, but what are we looking at? I'm assuming these cylindrical bodies are asci with tiny broadly ellipsoid spores (3.4-5.1 x 2.8-3µm) containing one or a few droplets? Or is this an anamorph producing budded off conidia? There was no indication of forceful ejection either of "asci" or spores. I am assuming that the free spores have come from the "asci" though those in the latter look more globose and have (it seems) generally only one droplet.

As can be seen the ostiole consists of short dark bristles surrounding longer, septate, hyaline ones.

I may well be missing something but I have never collected anything that looks quite like this. Any help would be good . . .

Chris

Charles Aron, 03-06-2021 09:26

Re : Fern mystery

Hi Chris,

Inriguing fungus and I've no idea but I was wondering what iodine reactions would be. Might help clarify whether the structures are asci.

Cheers,

Charles.

Paul Cannon, 24-06-2021 12:31

Re : Fern mystery

Sorry Chris, missed this one. It's a lichen, Anisomeridium polypori. Commonest on bark of broadleaved trees but can can occur in all sorts of unexpected habitats. The conical pycnidia exuding conidia like toothpaste from a tube are typical of the species.

Best wishes

Paul

Chris Yeates, 24-06-2021 15:10

Re : Fern mystery

Thanks Paul - I had considered contacting you directly re this one!

But I saw no evidence of a photobiont . . . . (?)

Paul Cannon, 24-06-2021 16:22

Re : Fern mystery

The thallus is described as "often inconspicuous, effuse, whitish grey or pale grey-green". So semi-invisible...

Chris Yeates, 24-06-2021 22:55

Re : Fern mystery

The first image shows green areas which will of course be the photobiont!

Accès membres

Forum AscoFrance