Byssonectria fusispora

Names

No English name yet.

(old scientific names found on the FRDBI Byssonectria terrestris, Humaria carbonigena, H. fusispora, H. roumeguerei var. carniosissima, Inermisia fusispora and Octospora carbonigena)

Description

This species is one of the ascomycetes or cup fungi and because the spores are released under pressure, the fertile part of the fruiting structure does not have to be aligned with gravity to ensure the successful dispersal of its spores (More information about the different divisions within the kingdom of the fungi). In this species the fertile surface is across the top of the rather cone like structure.

B. fusispora forms a mass of small (3-5 mm) bright yellow or slightly orange cone shaped structures and will grow in association with a range of substrates including fire sites, old straw, deer dung, broadleaf woodland litter and, most commonly so far in Scotland, in the litter of pine woods.

Fruiting:

The majority of records in Scotland occur between March and the beginning of September; it is considered a spring and early summer species in Continental Europe.

Habitat:

This is a litter rotting species that may well turn out to nitrophilic. The book Nordic Macromycetes (Vol. 1) suggests that this species may well be associated with deer urine and its occurrence in discreet patches on the forest floor in many ways suggests this. It certainly appears in a range of habitats including fire sites and, particularly in Scotland, pine litter.

The National Biodiversity Network Gateway records from FRDBI andHBRG datasets are shown on the above map (see terms and conditions at http://data.nbn.org.uk). Data providers and the NBN Trust bear no responsibility for any further analysis or interpretation of the information in the map.