Fungi associated with pollen

[Chris Yeates]

Alick Henrici wised me up to this delightfully obscure myco-niche. There is a suite of fungi which grow in association with (probably parasitising) clumps of pollen found on leaves (especially those of evergreens), the pollen being trapped in a net of hyphae. Many show similarities (and indeed overlaps) with the so-called Ingoldian “aquatic hyphomycetes”, and there are related communities inhabiting dew in tree canopies, honeydew deposits etc.

http://www.fungaldiversity.org/fdp/sfdp/20-8.pdf and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233705840_Canopy_fu%20…%20in_Hungary” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233705840_Canopy_fu%20…%20in_Hungary are freely available papers which give a good idea of the diversity of forms involved (though I’m not entirely convinced that fig. 14 in the former is correctly labelled). Anyhow here is a nice species I found recently on the BMS recorders weekend. It was first found in South Africa, but could well be widespread across the globe. It has a very suitable scientific name: Retiarius being the gladiator with the net and trident, and bovicornutus referring to cattle’s horns – especially when one thinks of the cattle of South Africa where the fungus was first described: http://etienneoosthuizen.photoshelter.com/image/I0000mrxzm5nv9tg

Retiarius bovicornutus

[attachment=0]Retiarius bovicornutus.jpg[/attachment]
cheers

Chris

[Chris Yeates]

I have been in e-correspondence with Hans-Otto Baral re these fungi and it would appear that following work in Hungary this fungus is actually referable to the as yet unpublished Retiarius revayae.

More anon,

Chris

[Author]

Posts