Happy National Bog Day
The fourth Sunday is July is National - nay International - Bog Day.
So I am writing a blog post about a favourite genus - whose members grow on Bogs.:
Lichenomphalia
These are lichens which have a Cap Fungus (Basidiomycete) partner- rather than the more usual cup fungus partner
1. They look like little umbrellas with a dimple in. (Omphalina means belly button in Greek - omphalos )
2. It is a surprise to learn that they are lichens not just fungi. (There are other fungi which look very similar which don't have the lichen association so take care! You do need a hand lens to see the thallus. But very close inspection with a hand lens reveals either little "globules/granules" or else little "squamules" at the base of these lichens- which are a mixture of alga and fungus.
3. I've just discovered they are member of the Hygrophoraceae - i.e. waxcaps - so they now share in the mystique and magic of Waxcap Surveys
4. They are so distinctive that relative beginners have a chance of recognising them. I remember being fascinated by a tiny yellow omphalinoid fungus up in the basic flushes and bog at over 3000 ft above sea level below Glas Maol when teaching a grasses course with the FSC at Kindrogan (centre sadly now closed) many years ago. Lichenomphalia alpina - sorry no picture just yet.
There are four species of Lichenomphalia - given in "the Lichens of Britain and Northern Ireland" book.
The first two below have a thallus that are globules- little green balls. The third has a thallus that are squamules that look like Normandina. The fourth is the yellow one mentioned above
1. Lichenomphalia velutina - found on Malham Tarn Bog - on a MTFC (centre sadly now closed) Lichen course with Allan Pentecost - This one is quite rare. It has a red or dark brown cap. Thallus made of granules
(Now I also wonder if this is the one I found above Stainforth )
2. Lichenomphalia umbellifera Pale coloured cap, thallus made of granules
3. Lichenomphalia hudsoniana - also on Malham Tarn Bog. This has tiny squamules like Normandina.
MushroomExpert.com writes about all the Ophalinoid fungi. lichenised or not here
1. Lichenomaphalia velutina - found on Malham Tarn Bog - 22 Aug 2015
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| Lichenomphalia velutina |
2. Lichenomphalia umbellifera Pale coloured cap, thallus made of granules.
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| Lichenomphalia umbellifera growing in a flush on Whernside 16 /08/2017 |
We found this on the BLS spring meeting this year at Moffat. Margaret dragged our little group back 1/2 a mile to see it in a curtain of wet sphagnum over a peat hag near Loch Skeen -It was only when we got back in the evening with the microscope we could see the tiny globules of the thallus growing in the Sphagnum.
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| The Lichenomphalia umbellifera is 1/3 of the way up and 1/3 of the way in from the right. |
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The Lichenomphalia umbellifera is still 1/3 of the way up and 1/3 of the way in from the right.
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3. Lichenomphalia hudsoniana - also on Malham Tarn Bog. This has tiny squamules like Normandina.
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| Lichenomphalia hudsoniana - See the delightful squamules Malham Tarn Bog - 22 Aug 2015 |
1. The Lichenomphalia I found beside Haw Beck above Stainfort in October 2021, .. Not sure if I ever sorted it out
and 2. the Loreleia postii - A little orange omphaloid fungus that has an association with the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha - on the steps up to Giggleswick chapel
