Sunday, April 23, 2023

Calcicole fungal findings

Finding the wind a bit too strong on the coast for the flies I wanted I headed slightly (very slightly) inland to a very sheltered pond in Inverkeithing I know to see if I could do better. Stepping out of the car I saw a fungus I'd never seen before, and which I was excited to see - Helvella corium. Not that I knew that at the time, but I knew ballpark where it belonged and I knew it was new. 

Helvella corium

Into a pot with one fruiting body and making my way to the pond, "What the hell is THIS?" Another new fungus poking out from the path edge that was some sort of morel, but another new one for sure.

Verpa conica
It turned out to be Verpa conica.

Both of these species are very scarce in Scotland, and both calcicole. That's one of the big plusses of the Inverkeithing area, is that the plants etc. are a bit different because of how calcareous that area is.

Passing the photos on to an expert friend he told me he had encountered both commonly on calcareous slopes in Scandinavia. This area definitely has lots more calcicole novelty in the tank.


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