Caloplaca marina crosspost - Inverkeithing, no micro work

Lovely band of the orange lichen Caloplaca marina along the rocks at Inverkeithing. Everyday things that you can take for granted. imagine how many millions of asco-spores are being churned out.

Rhizocarpon reductum, Wanlockhead, 22/08/2015

Growing in many places on old lead mine building walls and even on moss, as this one. Apothecia immersed although the thallus was very moist and not cracked as you would expect it will become, allowing the apothecia to "pull away" from the thallus as it's more often seen.

Muriform spores seem unlikely to go up to 8 per ascus as they're so big, but maybe they do. K+ yellow(ish). Is there a dextrinoid reaction in the ascii giving the brown tips? Not sure. My asco chemistry skills leave much to be desired. Spores are c.25x12.5

I think there's supposed to be a K+ reaction to the ascus tips in this species so I may revisit it again with chemicals to refine my approach.

Photoset

Melzer's versus Lugol's

Intrigued by the persistence of lichenologists to prefer Lugol's over Melzer's , I uncovered the following references:

http://www.namyco.org/docs/Melzer__Lugo.pdf

http://www.gbif-mycology.de/HostedSites/Baral/IodineReaction.htm

It seems that while Melzer's can give better reactions in the right conditions it also can mask some reactions because of one ingredient of its cocktail (I'm looking at you, chloral hydrate).

Since I'm a bit hamfisted wen it comes to the chemical reagent I like to throw Melzer's on things, but I may have to refine my inspection techniques if I'm going to mess around with ascos, including lichenised ones.

Galerina calyptrata

From Mossmorran, examined at Chesser August meeting, came these splendid calyptrate spores. No pics of the whole fruit body though maybe they are still available to photograph

On a roll ... rim

Fantastic display of Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus) at doctor's surgery in Crossgates this morning

Tubulicrinis subulatus

An oldie but a goody, from the Corticioid menu. Maybe I'll have microscope pics later

(there is doubt over the ID of this since briefly looking at it under the microscope. Sadly the specimen has passed on - fungi also die in hot cars. Worth checking anything likely looking in the future though)

Russula claroflava, Mossmorran

Growing at the base of a birch at the edge of the bog near a pool containing Sphagnum - classic habitat as noted by FN, Philips and Bon. This birch base is probably inundated regularly/annually. It has a slightly fruity smell and not much taste.

Persistent Waxcap - Hygrocybe persistens

Inverkeithing, July 2015

Colours faded to dull orange in captivity

Gills barely, if at all, attached

A "robust", grassy feel

Aquaduct cut to check lamellae

Gill section

Long, regular cell structure

Potato-ish spores with occasional constriction noted in FN