Unknown fungi

[CBJ]

Hi I was wondering if some knowledgable person could help me out and identify this.
I live in the north of Scotland and of the12 years living here I have never seen this before. of the stand of beech trees only the 1 has this on it.

sorry about the blurry photos

could it be some form of cauliflower fungus ??

many thanks in advance

CBJ

 

[Shewie]

Flicking through a couple of my books I'm thinking maybe it's Hairy Curtain Crust stereum hirsutem.

Apparently it's one of the first signs of decomposition so maybe that Beech is on it's way out ?

 

[CBJ]

Thanks shewie thats a big help

Ill need to keep my eye on that as the track to our house runs down an avenue with this beech on it

A real pity to loose a beech like that

 

[Toddy]

Watch for dropping branches too, Beech is notorious for suddenly losing great big limbs.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[moved on agiles10]

sorry to jump in on this hread but can anyone id this fungus

http://s616.photobucket.com/albums/tt250/agiles10/?action=view&current=DSCF0394.jpg

cheers

adam

 

[Ogri the trog]

sorry to jump in on this hread but can anyone id this fungus

http://s616.photobucket.com/albums/tt250/agiles10/?action=view&current=DSCF0394.jpg

cheers

adam

Any chance of some more photos Adam, its always good to be able to see profile, scale, gills etc.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

sorry to jump in on this hread but can anyone id this fungus

http://s616.photobucket.com/albums/tt250/agiles10/?action=view&current=DSCF0394.jpg

cheers

adam

Looks like an "Earth Ball" Scleroderma citrinum from that picture, is it round like a puff ball? if so break it open and if it is a black/grey colour with a thick pale cream skin then its an earth ball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleroderma_citrinum

 

[moved on agiles10]

sorry ogri the trog I only have that picture which i took about two months ago whilst walking in the wood. but thanks for the possible id.

 

[rawshak]

Looks like an "Earth Ball" Scleroderma citrinum from that picture, is it round like a puff ball? if so break it open and if it is a black/grey colour with a thick pale cream skin then its an earth ball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleroderma_citrinum

I agree. Another way to tell the earthball, is by its base. An earthball has no stem and a small nest of 'roots' at its base.

And in case you were interested, these aren't edible, and will give you quite a severe stomach upset.

 

[moved on agiles10]

that was going to be my next question "are they edible?" thanks for your help