A nice bouquet

[Pete Bannister]

On a dead sycamore in mixed broadleaf woodland in Lancashire. FB clusters ran from the crown to the base. I was a bit rushed at the time so didn't poke around. Nevertheless, cant see why this isn’t Armillaria spp

[sloth]

More than likely Flammulina velutipes, especially with the icy weather at the moment. One of only a few species which can freeze, thaw, and then carry on; I do believe...

[RobRainford]

More than likely Flammulina velutipes, especially with the icy weather at the moment. One of only a few species which can freeze, thaw, and then carry on; I do believe...

 

i disagree with you sloth, flammulina velutipes has a very distinctive velvety stipe. this group here does not, which would make me think towards Hypholoma fasiculare - sulphur tuft

 

edit: after looking at a few images of both f.v and h.f., im now confused as to which this could be, with them being desiccated its a bit tricky

Edited February 10, 2012 by RobRainford

[Pete Bannister]

Valid points guys; thanks for the comments:thumbup1:

I was looking at the photos, wondering why no bootlaces and, like you Sloth, I did think about the time of year and couldn’t ever remember seeing honey fungus in such fine fettle after heavy frosts. Rob, I also mused over sulphur tuft. But still I can’t put my finger on it..Expert opinion needed please: either that, or I'll have to have a proper look!

[Fungus]

the time of year and couldn’t ever remember seeing honey fungus in such fine fettle after heavy frosts. I also mused over sulphur tuft.

 

Pete,

This definitely is Flammulina velutipes. Armillaria doesn't fruit this time of year and Hypholoma fasciculare doesn't grow at this height and has brown spores, while these fungi have white spores.

[Pete Bannister]

Gerrit, thank you very much for that. Sporophores appear to be doing quite nicely at prolonged period bewteen zero and minus ten (ish).

Sloth: well done!

[Fungus]

Sporophores appear to be doing quite nicely at prolonged period between zero and minus ten (ish).

 

Pete,

The sporophores revive easily and soon restart sporulating after a frosty period, because they contain a kind of anti-freeze called trehalose.

[Pete Bannister]

Ah yes! many thanks Gerrit..

my blinkered vision comes from many years looking at fungi in buildings, where temperature range in relatively small. E.g. S. Lacrymans is quite sensitive to temperature flux.