Identification of Fungus

[axbridgecaver]

Last night I was taking a party on a guided tour of Redcliffe Caves (Bristol) and notices two types of fungus growing on the floor of the mine. Is anyone able to identify them please?

Fungus - 1 Width 25cm

Fungus - 1a Fungus 1 looks very similar to a fungus that I photographed in Milwr Tunnels two years ago.

Fungus - 2 Length of the fronds 7cm and the bulb like structure on the end 0.5cm.

 

[whitelackington]

excallent shots Axbridgecaver, I think you might have stolen my idea.
Apart from the fact i haven't got a camera, I have for years thought it would be an idea to photograph exotic looking fungus, they are only short live, usually in the "flowering stage"
when i went to college to learn about trees, i am afraid i glossed over the fungus lessons, there was too much information.

 

[axbridgecaver]

excallent shots Axbridgecaver, I think you might have stolen my idea.
Apart from the fact i haven't got a camera, I have for years thought it would be an idea to photograph exotic looking fungus, they are only short live, usually in the "flowering stage"
when i went to college to learn about trees, i am afraid i glossed over the fungus lessons, there was too much information.

You are quite correct the flowering stage is very short. I was in Redcliffe Caves the night before last when I noticed Fungus 1 and the smaller branch of the fungus at the top was in full bloom. As can be seen in yesterdays photograph (which was taken by a member of the tour party) it is now dying.

 

[whitelackington]

Did Axbridgecaver used to be a boyscout, always got his gps , compass and camera, justincase

 

[Peter Burgess]

Something to bear in mind when walking around sites with fungi growing on the floor. If this stuff is dry rot (for example) tis a good idea not to walk the stuff into your house, especially if you have wooden floors. Keep your caving boots outside, or rinse them off. Can't help you with ID, I'm afraid, but something to consider - if this is a fungus that normally spreads its mycelium through the soil or similar, it is likely to look and behave differently if it is constrained to grow on the surface of a stone floor, or compacted waste. The only reason it seems to be thriving might be because it has no competitors, and the ambient conditions are not too adverse (constant temperature/humidity for example).

 

[pisshead]

"flowering stage"

actually they are fruiting, not flowering... only plants have flowers 

/pedantry

 

[Peter Burgess]

Strictly speaking, isn't it 'sporulation', not 'fruiting'? I thought fruits developed after successful pollenation of flowers, and if fungi don't have flowers, how can they bear fruit?

 

[Peter Burgess]

Furthermore, I think the top two may not have reached sporulation, as they look like the mycelium is still spreading, and the 'fruiting' bodies haven't yet developed. I am happy to be corrected.

 

[Peter Burgess]

As for identification:

Quote from Brig. E.A .Glennie of C.R.G, in Belfry Bulletin 15, September 1948 http://www.bec-cave.org.uk/content/view/79/32/

Enquiry by me at Kew some time ago produced the following informations-

Fungi in caves in total darkness will go on vegetatively, i.e., developing mycelium, almost indefinitely without fruiting and in that form cannot be Identified.

The only way to collect them is to collect them into jars, or between damp paper and grow them under more favourable conditions until they fruit. This requires expert treatment. They did not considered specimens collected in formalin useful.

Though it's not the total darkness that prevents 'fruiting' bodies developing, it's other factors. In commercial mushroom growing, it's the application of 'casing' to the beds of compost that triggers the mushrooms to grow from the mycelium. Probably some bio-chemical 'factor' that is normally missing in an 'alien' environment like an old mine.