Tag Archives: fungi

UK Fungus Day @UniofReading notes 2

Here is the second gallery of fungal finds from our UK fungus day activities.  A range of both small and crust-like fungi through to large boletes.  There are part of the morning collections and a few of the afternoon foray … Continue reading

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UK Fungus Day @UniofReading notes no. 1

UK Fungus Day was marked by excellent weather for seeing and collecting fungi.  The group walked through the Wilderness on the morning foray and then in to central campus for the afternoon foray. The group consisted of Thames Valley Fungi … Continue reading

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The Lichen Symbiosis Part 4

Lichens are fundamental in the development of many ecosystems, and in some areas can provide food for some relatively large organisms. They are often intrinsically linked with primary succession, being the pioneering life forms that can create soil, by actively degrading rock, and releasing the minerals … Continue reading

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The Lichen Symbiosis Part 3

Lichen Reproduction This is no simple matter, only the fungus of the lichen reproduces sexually. Lichens have a number of ways to spread throughout the environment, both sexually and non-sexually. The sexual stage is also complicated by the fact the … Continue reading

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Another fungi foray

The Whiteknights campus is absolutely packed with excellent fungi this month. I’m out and about doing assignments almost everyday and I’ve had to add fungi forays to my list of new hobbies since beginning MSc Species ID and Survey Skills. … Continue reading

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Fungus – Paxillus obscurisporus

These fungi are growing in grassland (both mown and un-mown) near the Meteorology Department. Most of them are under lime trees but there are also some under an oak tree about 10 metres away. In size they varied from 8 to 20 … Continue reading

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Dark times for powdery mildew

Winter is here and with it we have left behind my dear biotrophic fungus, the powdery mildew (PM). Requiring plant material to source nutrients to grow and reproduce means that with the dropping of leaves, characteristic of ‘Fall’, PMs must … Continue reading

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Powdery mildew phenology; it will be back!

Over the next few months I will be bringing you up to speed with the, increasingly specific, workings of powdery mildews (PMs) (Erysiphales) present on the University of Reading, Whiteknights, campus during the past year. Records and sitings on campus … Continue reading

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Armillaria spp.: attack of the deadly bootlaces!

Even as the days become shorter, there’s always time to admire other forms of biodiversity out there on campus. Take these fungi, for example… I found these last month by Creighton Court (off Northcourt Avenue). I think it could be one … Continue reading

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Ink Caps, Hare’s Feet: Toadstools on campus

A combination of mild damp autumnal weather and an abundance of wood chippings on campus seems to be paying dividends for the fungal flora of Whiteknights. Here we see the Hare’s Foot Ink Cap (Coprinopsis lagopus) flourishing on wood chippings near … Continue reading

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