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Not only nuts in May …
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Volume 9, Part 2, May 1995
NOT ONLY NUTS IN MAY
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EVELYN TURNBULL Royal Botanic Garden , Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK One of the more unusual enquiries sent in to the Mycology Department at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh recently was from Scottish Natural Heritage. It involved searching for and identifying fungal spores from the stomach contents of red squirrels which had been found in Scotland. The red squirrel is the subject of a survey being carried out at present by the Biological Recording in Scotland Campaign CERISC). Once common throughout the British Isles, red squirrel numbers have reached an all time low. Competition with grey squirrels, habitat destruction, disease and severe weather conditions are all thought to be contributing factors. The once plentiful reds are now being limited to coniferous woodlands where they feed on berries and nuts. The fact that squirrels eat fungi is not fully appreciated in the UK so the opportunity to study the slides of the stomach contents of five reds prepared by Kate Scarlet, an Honours student at Edinburgh University, was welcomed. The squirrels being studied had died of natural causes or were road accident victims. The following fungi were identified from their spores:
False truffles - Basidiomycetes Melanogaster ambiguus (Vitt .) Tul. Fig ID & Fig 2A
Common name - 'The stinking slime truffle'. This is a false truffle and is rather widespread although not found frequently in Scotland. Recorded from as far north as Orkney. There are 21 collections in E. The squirrels which had these spores present in their stomach contents had died in January, May and July. Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Fr. Fig lC Common name - 'The blushing beard truffle'. This is a false truffle , a common species which is usually found more deeply buried than other Rhizopogon spp. 10 collections in E. It is thought that the squirrel with these spores present died in October.
True truffles - Ascomycetes Elaphomyces muricatus Fr. Fig IB Common name - 'The rough coated truffle'. This is a true truffle which is widely distributed throughout the British Isles and also occurs in Europe, Japan and North America. It has been found regularly over several years in the soil amongst the root-system of a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) at Dawyck Botanic Garden, Peebleshire where it occurs from April until October. 36 collections in E. The spores that were identified came from a squirrel which had died in January. Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk .) Berk. & Br. Fig lA Common name - 'Tulasne's truffle'. This species is a true truffle . Although infrequently found it is widespread in the British Isles. 2 collections in E. The squirrel involved in this collection died in the month of July.
E
60l1m
Fi g 1 Spores of A, Hydnotrya tulasnei; B, Elaphomyces m uricatus; C, Rhizopogon roseolus; D, Melanogaster ambiguus; E, Endogone flammicoron a
Pea truffles - Zygomycetes Endogone flammicorona Trappe & Gerd. Fig IE Common name - 'The flame-crowned pea truffle'. This species is a pea truffle. It is not common but
Volume 9, Part 2, May 1995 has been found in England & Scotland in humus associated with coniferous and deciduous trees . 1 collection in E. Spores were identified from stomach contents from squirrels which had died in May and July. Endogone sp. (probably E . lactiflua Berk. & Br.) E. lactiflua is common throughout the British Isles and is known as 'The milky pea truffle'. This was identified from a squirrel which had died in May.
Boleti Boletus sp. s.lato. Fig 2B As the spores of several genera ofboletes look the same it was impossible to go further with thi s identification although the spores probably belonged to either a species of Boletus or Leccinum. These spores were found on the same slide as the Rhizopogon roseolus spores which were from a squirrel which had most probably died in October. From this collection of spores it may be suggested that the squirrels have actually made a point of digging for truffles (hypogeous fungi) as well as eating epigeous fruiting bodies. The presence of the bolete spores indicate that the squirrels had been foraging in the autumn. The spores most frequently found were those of Melanogaster ambiguus followed by Endogone flammicorona . The other species occurred only once. It has been suggested that reds could coexist with greys if enough food was available, so perhaps the fungi provide an important food source for the reds in their continuing struggle for survival.
r:
Fig 2 Spores of A, Melanogaster ambiguus; B, Boletus sp . x 300
Photomicrographs of the spores were taken using a Zeiss Axiophot and spore drawings were made using a Leitz Diaplan light microscope with drawing tube. Reference Pegler, D.N., Spooner, B.M . & Young, T.W.K. (1993 ) A Revision of British Hypogeous Fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , 216 pp .
THE BMS SLIDE COLLECTION Photographs are needed of species not already represented in the collection, e.g.: A garicus - small species such as comtulus and semotus; Agrocybe erebia and A . semiorbicularis; Boletus piperatus; Collybia dryophila; Conocybe lactea; Coprinus sterq uilin us and small uncommon species; Cortinarius - many of the sm aller species and also large species with bulb (C. speciosissim us is often asked for ); Entoloma (in clu din g Leptonia and Nolaneai - mo st species; Hebeloma - the small species pumilum and pusillum; Inocybe go dey i, jurana, maculata, patouillardii, pyriodora; Letinus lepideu s; Lyophyllum - the blackening species; Omphalina pyxidata; Russula betularum, farinipes, oliuacea, pectinata, uioleipes; Tricholoma portentosum, ustale. We have photographs of many bracket fungi but lack Hymenochaete rubiginosa and 'Oxyp orus populinus and have very few slides of resupinate species. There is a good collection of discomycetes but few pyrenomycetes. We need the following slides as replacements and/or extras: Agaricus campestris, A . langei, silvaticu s ; Amanita fuloa , vaginata, uirosa; Boletus edulis; Cantharellus cibariu s; Clitocybe claoip es, infundibuliformis, riuulosa; Inocybe asterosp ora, fastigiata; Leccinum scabrum, uersipell e; Macrolepiota procera. Slides of anything rare or especially interesting (all groups) are most welcome. All offers to Margaret Holden, 101 Overstone Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5PL .
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Volume 9, Part 2, May 1995
NOT ONLY NUTS IN MAY
• • •
EVELYN TURNBULL Royal Botanic Garden , Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK One of the more unusual enquiries sent in to the Mycology Department at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh recently was from Scottish Natural Heritage. It involved searching for and identifying fungal spores from the stomach contents of red squirrels which had been found in Scotland. The red squirrel is the subject of a survey being carried out at present by the Biological Recording in Scotland Campaign CERISC). Once common throughout the British Isles, red squirrel numbers have reached an all time low. Competition with grey squirrels, habitat destruction, disease and severe weather conditions are all thought to be contributing factors. The once plentiful reds are now being limited to coniferous woodlands where they feed on berries and nuts. The fact that squirrels eat fungi is not fully appreciated in the UK so the opportunity to study the slides of the stomach contents of five reds prepared by Kate Scarlet, an Honours student at Edinburgh University, was welcomed. The squirrels being studied had died of natural causes or were road accident victims. The following fungi were identified from their spores:
False truffles - Basidiomycetes Melanogaster ambiguus (Vitt .) Tul. Fig ID & Fig 2A
Common name - 'The stinking slime truffle'. This is a false truffle and is rather widespread although not found frequently in Scotland. Recorded from as far north as Orkney. There are 21 collections in E. The squirrels which had these spores present in their stomach contents had died in January, May and July. Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Fr. Fig lC Common name - 'The blushing beard truffle'. This is a false truffle , a common species which is usually found more deeply buried than other Rhizopogon spp. 10 collections in E. It is thought that the squirrel with these spores present died in October.
True truffles - Ascomycetes Elaphomyces muricatus Fr. Fig IB Common name - 'The rough coated truffle'. This is a true truffle which is widely distributed throughout the British Isles and also occurs in Europe, Japan and North America. It has been found regularly over several years in the soil amongst the root-system of a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) at Dawyck Botanic Garden, Peebleshire where it occurs from April until October. 36 collections in E. The spores that were identified came from a squirrel which had died in January. Hydnotrya tulasnei (Berk .) Berk. & Br. Fig lA Common name - 'Tulasne's truffle'. This species is a true truffle . Although infrequently found it is widespread in the British Isles. 2 collections in E. The squirrel involved in this collection died in the month of July.
E
60l1m
Fi g 1 Spores of A, Hydnotrya tulasnei; B, Elaphomyces m uricatus; C, Rhizopogon roseolus; D, Melanogaster ambiguus; E, Endogone flammicoron a
Pea truffles - Zygomycetes Endogone flammicorona Trappe & Gerd. Fig IE Common name - 'The flame-crowned pea truffle'. This species is a pea truffle. It is not common but
Volume 9, Part 2, May 1995 has been found in England & Scotland in humus associated with coniferous and deciduous trees . 1 collection in E. Spores were identified from stomach contents from squirrels which had died in May and July. Endogone sp. (probably E . lactiflua Berk. & Br.) E. lactiflua is common throughout the British Isles and is known as 'The milky pea truffle'. This was identified from a squirrel which had died in May.
Boleti Boletus sp. s.lato. Fig 2B As the spores of several genera ofboletes look the same it was impossible to go further with thi s identification although the spores probably belonged to either a species of Boletus or Leccinum. These spores were found on the same slide as the Rhizopogon roseolus spores which were from a squirrel which had most probably died in October. From this collection of spores it may be suggested that the squirrels have actually made a point of digging for truffles (hypogeous fungi) as well as eating epigeous fruiting bodies. The presence of the bolete spores indicate that the squirrels had been foraging in the autumn. The spores most frequently found were those of Melanogaster ambiguus followed by Endogone flammicorona . The other species occurred only once. It has been suggested that reds could coexist with greys if enough food was available, so perhaps the fungi provide an important food source for the reds in their continuing struggle for survival.
r:
Fig 2 Spores of A, Melanogaster ambiguus; B, Boletus sp . x 300
Photomicrographs of the spores were taken using a Zeiss Axiophot and spore drawings were made using a Leitz Diaplan light microscope with drawing tube. Reference Pegler, D.N., Spooner, B.M . & Young, T.W.K. (1993 ) A Revision of British Hypogeous Fungi. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , 216 pp .
THE BMS SLIDE COLLECTION Photographs are needed of species not already represented in the collection, e.g.: A garicus - small species such as comtulus and semotus; Agrocybe erebia and A . semiorbicularis; Boletus piperatus; Collybia dryophila; Conocybe lactea; Coprinus sterq uilin us and small uncommon species; Cortinarius - many of the sm aller species and also large species with bulb (C. speciosissim us is often asked for ); Entoloma (in clu din g Leptonia and Nolaneai - mo st species; Hebeloma - the small species pumilum and pusillum; Inocybe go dey i, jurana, maculata, patouillardii, pyriodora; Letinus lepideu s; Lyophyllum - the blackening species; Omphalina pyxidata; Russula betularum, farinipes, oliuacea, pectinata, uioleipes; Tricholoma portentosum, ustale. We have photographs of many bracket fungi but lack Hymenochaete rubiginosa and 'Oxyp orus populinus and have very few slides of resupinate species. There is a good collection of discomycetes but few pyrenomycetes. We need the following slides as replacements and/or extras: Agaricus campestris, A . langei, silvaticu s ; Amanita fuloa , vaginata, uirosa; Boletus edulis; Cantharellus cibariu s; Clitocybe claoip es, infundibuliformis, riuulosa; Inocybe asterosp ora, fastigiata; Leccinum scabrum, uersipell e; Macrolepiota procera. Slides of anything rare or especially interesting (all groups) are most welcome. All offers to Margaret Holden, 101 Overstone Road, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5PL .
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