Figure 1-4: T. delicatulum capsule, T. delicatulum, T. delicatulum branching and individual leaves

Name: Thuidium delicatulum

Common Name: Delicate fern moss

Family: Thuidaceae

Collection Date: 14 November 2016

Habitat: Forest soils, rotting logs, rocks in damp, shady spaces

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description: Resemble delicate ferns and form matts of yellow green. Stems are 2-3x pinnate with densely packed, triangular shaped leaves. 

Key Used: 

McKnight, K. B., Rohrer, J. R., Ward, K. M., Perdrizet, J. W. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians.

Keying steps: 

p. 16 growth form – pleurocarp; leaf shape – ovate; Midrib – yes; Key VIII p. 365

1. plants pinnately... 2

2. Stems 2-3x pinnate... 3

3. Stem leaves not pleated... Thuidium delicatulum

Figure 1: C. cuspidata in oil view                Figure 2: C. cuspidata on 40 zoom level

Name: Craticula cuspidata

Family: Stauroneidaceae

Collection Date: 7 September 2016

Habitat: Freshwater

Location: Solon pond

Description: Rhombic lanceolate, widest at center and tapering to the apices. Striae are parallel and equidistant.

Key Used: 

https://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa

Keying steps: 

1. symmetrical biraphid - valves with bilateral symmetry

2. Craticulata - Strae parallel...

3. Craticulata cuspidata - valves with narrow apices

Figure 1: P. badius cap                Figure 2: P. badius spore bearing surface

 Figure 3: P. radius pores

Name: Polyporus badius

Common Name: Black leg

Family: Polyporaceae

Collection Date: 14 Nobember 2016

Habitat: solitary or in groups on rotting hardwoods. 

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description: Convex shaped becoming depressed and surface is tan to chestnut-brown to dark reddish-brown and blackish in age. Margin is paler. Pores are minute, white when fresh and browning with age. 

Key Used: 

Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified

Keying steps: 

Introduction key pg. 52

Polypores and Bracket Fungi pg. 549

1. spore-bearing surface not composed of tubes... 2

2. Fruiting body with a stalk and cap... 3

3. Flesh usually white or pallid... Polyporus, Albatrellus, & Allies p.554

1. Res confined to underside of cap... 2

2. Fruiting body wood-inhabiting... 3

3. Stalk black or with a black base... 4

4. Cap reddish-brown to chestnut-brown to blackish... P. badius

Figure 1: Gem-studded puffball thallus                Figure 2: L. perlatum spore mass

Name: Lycoperdon perlatum

Common Name: Gem-studded puffball

Family: Agaricaceae

Collection Date: 15 October 2016

Habitat: grows terrestrially in woods and grassy areas.

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description: Shaped like an inverted pear with a prominent stem and roundish to flattened top. Covered with whitish spines.

Key Used: 
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified
Keying steps:

Introduction key pg. 52

Basidiomycetes … puffballs and earthstars, pg. 677

1. Fruiting body not ruptured into starlike rays … 2

2. Spore mass not containing peridioles… 4

4. peridioles absent… 5

5. skin thick or thin; spore mass white when young… 6

6. Fruitnig boyd not thick-skinned… 7

7. Spore mass not with prominent veins… 8

8. sterile base present… 9

9. Fruiting body small to medium sized… Lycoperdon & Allies, pg. 690

1. Fruiting body not dark brown when young… 2

2. usually terrestrial… 4

4. Much taller than iti is broad… 5

5. Rooting base absent or fruiting body smaller… 6

6. Not orange or bright yellow… 7

7. Fruiting body not lavender tinged when young… 8

8. Typically growing in woods… 11

11. spines present but shorter and sparser… 13

13. Very common and widespread… 14

14. Mature spore mass olive-brown to brown… Lycoperdon perlatum.

 

Figure 3: S. citrinum thallus; Figure 4: S. citrinum spore mass

Name: Scleroderma citrinum

Common Name: Common earthball

Family: Sclerodermataceae

Collection Date: 15 October 2016

Habitat: Mycorrizhal with hardwoods and conifers. Often found in mossy areas and sometimes on rotting wood.

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description: Round to flattened with a hard scaly surface that is yellow to yellow-brown. The skin is whitish when sliced. Spore mass is thick and white when young, but turns black from the center outwards as it ages.

Key Used: 
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified
Keying Steps:

Basidiomycetes … puffballs and earthstars, pg. 677

1. Fruiting body not ruptured into starlike rays … 2

2. Spore mass not containing peridioles… 4

4. peridioles absent… 5

5. Spore case typically hard… Scleroderma, pg. 707

1. Spore mass interior not divided into large irregular chambers… 2

2. Fruiting above ground… 3

3. Peridium thinner (1-4mm)… 4

4. Fruiting body has no stalk… 5

5. Peridium covered with prominent inherent rosette-like scale… 6

6. Peridium fairly thick (1-4mm)… S. citrinum

Figure 5: Two L. foetidum thalli; Figure 6: L. foetidum spore mass

Name: Lycoperdon foetidum

Common Name: Gem-studded puffball

Family: Agaricaceae

Collection Date: 15 October 2016

Habitat: grows terrestrially in woods and grassy areas.

Location: James H. Barrow Field Station

Description: Shaped like an inverted pear with a prominent stem and roundish to flattened top. Covered with whitish spines.

Key Used: 
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified
Keying Steps
Introduction key pg. 52

Basidiomycetes … puffballs and earthstars, pg. 677

1. Fruiting body not ruptured into starlike rays … 2

2. Spore mass not containing peridioles… 4

4. peridioles absent… 5

5. skin thick or thin; spore mass white when young… 6

6. Fruitnig boyd not thick-skinned… 7

7. Spore mass not with prominent veins… 8

8. Sterile base present… 9

9. Fruiting body small to medium sized… Lycoperdon & Allies, pg. 690

1. Exterior of fruiting body covered with dark brown to black spines when young… L. foetidum

Figure 1,2: T. versicolor cap and pore surface

Name: Trametes versicolor

Common name: Turkey tail

Family: Polyporaceae

Collection Date: 15 October 2016

Habitat: Grows on dead, deciduous wood, in wounds of living hardwood trees, and on conifers

Location: James H. Barrow field station on decaying wood

Description: The top cap shows concentric circles of varying colors and the flesh has a leathery texture. Grows in tiled layers. Pore surface is whitish to light brown with round pores.


Key Used: 
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified
Keying Steps:

Introduction key pg. 52

Basidiomycetes …Polypores and Bracket Fungi pg. 549

1. Spore-bearing surface not composed of tubes… 2

2. Fruiting body knoblike, hooflike, bracketlike, shelflike; stalk absent… 4

4. Poor surface exposed… 5

5. Pore surface not separable and elastic/gelatinous… 6

6. Fruiting body normally with a cap ... 7

7. Spore bearing surface with deep elongated mazelike pockets or even gills or teeth… 10

10. Not with above features; very common… 11

11. Fruiting body usually annual… 12

12. Flesh red to oragn, rusty-brown, tawny … Phaelous, Inonotus, Coltricia, & Allies, pg. 566

1. Fruiting growing shelflike… 5

5.  Pores small … Trametes and Allies, pg. 592

1. Pore surface not bright saffron to orange red … 2

2. Fertile surface not rosy… 4

4. Fruiting body not fleshy… 5

5. Pores may be brown or grayish…6

6. Cap not hairy … 9

9. Pore surface may become beige or grayish with age… 10

10. Cap velvety … 11

11. Cap usually zoned … 12

12.  Cap surface velvety alternating with silky smooth zones… Trametes versicolor.

Figure 1,2: A. denudata on bark; zoomed in on fruiting body

Name: Arcryria denudata

Family: Trichiaceae

Collection Date: 22 September 2016

Habitat: Found on decaying wood

Location: Nelson Ledges

Description: ovate to cylindrical structure on a tiny stalk that isn’t always apparent. Surface is pinkish to brick red. Spores red to reddish brown


Key Used: 

discoverlife.org

Keying Steps:

Fruiting body type – sporangia …

Spore mass color – Bright …

Peridium with lime – No …

26 species

visually chose … Arcyria denudata