Yesterday I posted this mushroom and guessed it was an Orange Birch Bolete. TREVOR suggested I check out Brown Birch Boletes. I went out and walked the half mile there and back to collect it. It was raining. Thanks Trevor. It took me ages to find as it had been kicked over. Out of interest or to add interest if you click and enlarge it just to the right of centre at the top of the stalk there are a couple of tiny aphids.
Got it back and taking up my trusty metronome, that should read microtome; not to worry it was neither it was my kitchen knife. I cut it in half or as scientists say, bisected it.
I left it a while but it didn’t bruise purple.
I am going for Brown Birch Bolete, Leccinum scabrum.
I then left the other half on a bit of paper for a spore print but it was empty and left nothing much at all. It was microscope time.
It’s pores or tubes at 500X.
The bit where the tubes join the cap. They are empty.
Tubes on their own.
This morning we have been out after more fungi and I found a colony of Common Earthballs. They were all long past their best.
This is one of the best. I’m going to guess Scleroderma citrinum. What the green stuff is I don’t know but have seen it on them before. I have lots of pictures of these but will have a look and see if they are worth posting.
I’ll finish off today with these.
Spangle Galls under an Oak Leaf. These are part of the life cycle of the Gall Wasp which part I’m not sure. I brought one back and had a look under the microscope.
This is the outside that you can see in the first picture at 500X. Beautiful, I’m glad I had a look.
This the other side. Very pretty for a backside.
That’s all for now, have a great weekend. Tomorrow I’m heading north to Moffat.
I can see now why you brought the microscope thingy, the level of detail we miss out on with our eyes is truly fascinating. The spore/tubes is interesting but the Gall wasp is equally interesting too
ReplyDeleteDouglas, it is an entertaining bit of kit. It took a bit of getting used to as there is a couple of seconds delay between telling it to take a picture and it doing so. I have to keep everything very still.
DeleteSorry you got wet Adrian! Still, it was worth going back for it as you've got some Interesting images with the microscope, it's fascinating to see things in ultra close up, especially the detail of those Spangle Galls....They each contain a single larva of the asexual generation of the gall wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (it's name must be the biggest thing about it?) The gall will eventually fall from the leaf and overwinter in the leaf litter and in the spring the adult gall wasps will emerge to lay their eggs in the oak buds where the sexual generation of gall, known as currant galls, will develop on the male catkins until the adult insect emerges during the summer when the mated females will lay their eggs on the leaves to start the whole process over again.
ReplyDeleteI think the green on the Earthball is just one of the varied colour changes that they go through as they age.
Have a safe journey tomorrow...[;o)
Thanks Trevor, It passed an interesting evening on, I'm pleased with the USB microscope. It has plenty of resolution and was very reasonable at £70.00p.
DeleteI knew the Gall Wasp business was very complicated and have seen the wasps they aren't very big.
There must have been a dozen Earthballs. It's a pity I didn't find them earlier but then I wasn't here earlier. Not all of them have the green. I'll look into it.
I will take it steady, it's not far.
You should present a TV show for kids - "Fungi with Dr Adrian". You'd be saying "No kids, I am not sure what this mushroom is and I am not sure what this one is either. It could be psilocybe semilanceata so I am going to add it to my soup. Michaela Strachan could be your assistant - like Paul Daniels with Debbie McGee.
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea. I'll get onto the BBC. I'd be sure then what things were as I'd be reading from an auto-cue. It's a very complicated business is nature. I just enjoy taking the pictures.
DeleteSuch an inquisitive mind.
ReplyDeleteR.Mac, it's because I don't have a television. I have to find something to do.
DeleteAdriaan you have hidden talents.
ReplyDeleteBas, not any more i don't the microscope does it all.
DeleteSupermacros! :)
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Thanks Mersad.
DeleteYour microscope is working well.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I am very happy with it. I wonder if the quality could be improved by using a proper microscope objective lens and a webcam. Probably not worth it as now I glue the specimen down to a bit of card and nothing moves around the quality is acceptable.
DeleteYour fascination with the anatomy of mushrooms is admirable Adrian.
ReplyDeleteIt's the long dark nights that are to blame Carol.
DeleteGreat work Adrian. I often struggle with fungi ID but looks like you've gone the extra mile on this one.
ReplyDeleteAdam, it's a problem. Fungi are very variable even when they are called the same thing. Then they age and look different again.
DeleteBeautiful photos of the Mushies Adrian.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob.
DeleteI have just got myself a cheap ring flash, so i may have a go at doing the fungi.
ReplyDeletepeter
Peter, good luck with it. I rarely use mine on manual. I do set the power to full one side and a quarter the other. f you can set it to ETTL. I have the camera on full auto. Aperture to f11 to f16, exposure to sync speed usually 1/200s to 1/250s. If the camera can see use auto focus if not focus manually and just rock the camera click and pray.
DeleteI find it great for insects with an extension tube or two. The flash doesn't bother them any more than the camera does.
That should read camera on full manual
DeleteAdrian I love mushrooms so much, but seeing the picture nr 10 it's scary
ReplyDeleteLaura, #10 is a little wasp lava. You don't need to eat them.
DeleteYou have some very interesting shots today. i really like the one on the Gall wasps. There is so much that we miss with our limited vision.
ReplyDeleteRed, the USB microscope was a good buy. I am fascinated by things I've never seen before.
DeleteAmazing and fascinating photos and info. A photo and scientific lab combined ~ super microscopic detail. Also enjoyed your cinegraphs on previous posts :)
ReplyDeleteGlo the microscope is a cheap USB one. about middle of the range. Once I sorted the lighting and got everything stable it works fine.
DeleteI feel as though I've been intimate with a fungus....Not that I'd know how that might feel. FANTASTIC stuff, Adrian!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill. The USB microscopes are very good for the money.
Delete