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fungal pompoms

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  • February 7, 2025 at 7:07 pm #32995
    Glos lichens

      Does anyone know what these pompoms are? Just a bit of fun, but I don’t recall seeing them before.

      I don’t think they are lichen, but maybe other lichenologists are familiar with them.

      They were on a veteran oak base in or beneath a lichen that I haven’t been able to identify, being just a dirty greasy looking C- K- thin white crust which scratches green. I was investigating some of the dark marks, hoping to get an Arthonia or at least something recognisable.

      February 7, 2025 at 9:22 pm #46492
      JennyS

        Perhaps the lichenicolous Psammina filamentosa or similar?

        https://www.dorsetnature.co.uk/pages-lichen/lch-632.html

        (identification subsequently confirmed by David Hawksworth but I haven’t got round to updating it)

        February 7, 2025 at 10:27 pm #46493
        maxieput901
        Participant

          I couldn’t make out any septation so was wondering if you could have Psammina simplex or P. stipitata. There’s a key in the paper in the Lichenologist vol.52(5) pp 337-343 and another paper in the Lichenologist vol. 31(6) pp 579-586

          February 8, 2025 at 12:20 am #46494
          Glos lichens

            Brilliant, thanks ladies. I’m sure you’re right about it being a Psammina. I had, of course, binned the slide, and have just spent the last hour fruitlessly cutting at the specimen to try to find more.

            I cannot see any septation in my photos. I followed the key as you suggested, Maxine, which got me fairly securely to Psammina simplex, though I really wish I had more material to recheck. Put it down to experience.

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