Fungus on Pine Cone (1 Viewer)

The photographs show a fungus growing on an old pine cone at Gibraltar Point. I would be grateful if anyone could identify the species.

GG sorry I cant help with the ID, but these images just show how incredibly ingenious these organisms are, fantastic.

Hi GG,

My first guess would be Strobilurus tenacellus Pinecone Cap.
Quite a useful species, not only because it gets rid of cones, but because several widely used agricultural fungicides derive from it.

Cheers,
Nick

I have used a search engine, and Conifercone Cap (Baeospora myosura) also seems a possibility.

Can't help with the fungus, but the more complete cone in the background of the first pic is European Black Pine Pinus nigra.

ggregory71 said:

I have used a search engine, and Conifercone Cap (Baeospora myosura) also seems a possibility.

Click to expand...

Hi GG,

Yes, I think it is a possibility. I find Strobilurus and Baeospora quite easy to tell apart in the field, but it's far more difficult from a photo!

The stems of B.myosura are always obviously pruinose - I think this is missing in your photos (I include a photo for comparison, though I imagine you have seen this feature during your internet searches). In particular the stem of the young fruitbodies on the left (second pic) seem to be entirely smooth.

But the gills look too crowded for Strobilurus , which is confusing...

I wonder if the caulocystidia (which are the cells which make the stem look pruinose) could have been destroyed by handling/abrasion?

Cheers,
Nick