Other wildlife in Olav's Wood: Fungi, Lichens and Mycetozoa
Here are some records of fungi, lichens and mycetozoa ("slime molds") in the woods. Thanks to Lee Johnson (LJ) for most of these records.
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Shaggy Parasols (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) among Spruce needles in Olav's Wood (July 2016) |
Fungi
- Ascocoryne sarcoides - Purple jellydisc
- Chlorophyllum rhacodes - Shaggy Parasol
- Cryptomyces maximus - Willow Blister. A globally scarce paleo- and neo-arctic species, with several records for Orkney.
- Dacrymyces stillatus - Common Jellyspot
- Dasyscyphus sulphureus - A yellow cup fungus on nettle stems (LJ, Sept 2017)
- Exidia thuretiana - White Brain fungus
- Exidia recisa - Amber Jelly fungus, found on willow
- *Macrotyphula fistulosa var contorta - Contorted Pipe Club fungus. A new record for Orkney.
- Marasmius sp. (LJ, Sept 2017)
- Podosphaera spiraeae - a mildew
- Taphrina alni - Alder Tongue Fungus (LJ, 21st Aug 2018)
- Formerly rare in UK but becoming common now (from 1990s onwards) [H. Ellis, Cecidology, Vol 16 No. 1].
- Puccinia sp. - a rust
- Tremella encephala - a parasite on another fungus species
- Uromyces dactylidis - Celandine Clustercup Rust (LJ, 5th May 2018)
- Xylaria hypoxylon - Stag's Horn fungus
Lichens
Lichens are compound organisms consisting of fungi together with algae and/or cynobacteria, living together symbiotically and acting as a single organism. Lichens in Olav's Wood include:
- Graphis scripts - Script Lichen
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- Ramalina sp. - A Strap Lichen
Mycetozoa
Mycetozoa, also called "slime molds", are strange creatures. They have a variety of life-cycles and structures, but all reproduce by spores. In some species, at certain stages of their life-cycle, individual cells congregate to form bodies which can detect food sources and move towards them. Lee Johnson has found several species in Olav's Wood. Photographs below from Lee (click for larger images).
- Leocarpus fragilis
- Mucilago crustacea
- Stemonitis fusca
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Stemonitis fusca in Olav's Wood (July 2015) |
Leocarpus fragilis in Olav's Wood (July 2015) | Leocarpus fragilis after sporing (July 2015) |
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