Specimen #10: Bird's Nest Fungus

Cyathus striatus

Figure 1. Cyathus striatus Note the fuzzy exterior and striated interior of the peridium.

 Figure 2. Top view of Cyathus striatus. Note the grayish egg connected to the side of the 'nest'.

Figure 3. Young Cyathus striatus with 'lid' still present

Figure 4. Cyathus striatus growing in the mulch

Phylum: Basidiomycota
Family: Nidulariaceae
Species: Cyathus striatus
Common name:Bird's Nest Fungus
Collection date: 9/2/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: This specimen was found in a shady mulch pile in Bonney Castle Garden (Hiram, OH. It was fairly dry.
Description: This specimen has multiple stages of development as shown above. Figure 3 shows a young peridium that still has it's 'lid'.  This species has a fuzzy-like exterior (fig. 1& 3) and a striated interior (fig. 1). It is commonly found on mulch (as the case of this specimen). White to gray eggs (peridioles) are inside the ' nest' and are attached to the side (fig. 2).
Key used: Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms demystified: A comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (2nd ed.). Berkley: Ten Speed Press.

Bird's Nest Fungi
Nidulariales p. 778
1. Not as above; fruiting body cylindrical to mug or cup-shaped when mature, containing more than one egg (unless all but one have been expelled)...
2. Not as above; fruiting body typically with a "lid" when very young, the nest usually well formed and persistent; eggs may or may not be imbedded in a mucilage...
4. Eggs white to gray, brown, or black, often (but not always) attached to side of nest by a minute cord or short stalk, not imbedded in a mucilage; sides of nest vertical to tapered...
6. Interior of nest longitudinally striate (with distinct radical grooves)...

Cyathus striatus

For more information on Cyathus striatus please review the following links:
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/cyathus_striatus.html
http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/cyathus-striatus.php
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/may2006.html

Specimen #9: Nut Moss

Diphyscium foliosum

Figure 1. Diphyscium foliosum

Figure 2. Midrib of Diphyscium foliosum

Figure 3. Leaf of Diphyscium foliosum with papillae

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Buxbaumiaceae
Species: Diphyscium foliosum
Common name: Nut moss
Collection date: 10/8/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: This specimen was found on a damp partially sunny rock face along a stream at the James H. Barrow Field Station.
Description: The most prominent feature of this plant, the 'nut' capsule measures only 4-5 mm tall.
Key used: McKnight, K. B. et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

Acrocarps with tongue shaped leaves p. 354
1. leaves arranged in more than two rows  and coming out all around stem; wet plants not flat or not resembling ferns...
6. plants less than or equal to 1.5 cm tall...
8. leaves with rounded tips;capsules 3 mm long, shaped like a wheat kernel, stalkless...

Diphyscium foliosum

For more information on Diphyscium folisoum please review the following links:
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/F27/27-09Diphysciaceae.pdf
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/mosses/Diphyscium_foliosum.pdf
http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imDiphysciumFoliosum.html

Specimen #8: Corn horn peat moss

Sphagnum subsecundum 

 Figure 1. Apical head of Sphagnum subsecundum not the 'twisted' appearance and branching fascicles.

Figure 2. Cellular structure of Sphagnum

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Sphagnaceae
Species: Sphagnum subsecundum
Common name: Corn horn peat moss
Collection date: 9/10/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: This specimen was found in the Triangle Lake Bog in thin mats.
Description: This moss has the bunching fascicles typical of Sphagnum. Although the plant is primarily a light green, the tips of the branches have a  brownish hue.
Key used: McKnight, K. B. et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the northeast
and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

Peat Moss p. 376
1. Branch leaves with margins flat to somewhat incurved tip long-pointed, not hooded; stem cross-section without conspicuous cortex, less than 1/4 diameter of stem; branches slender, stringy or spiky...
5. Clusters of 5 or fewer branches attached at one point; apical head large or small but not as dense as pom-pom; stems stiff to flexible; plants typically grow as cushions, mats, or carpets either in forests or open habitats such as bogs, fens, or sedge meadow...

6. Branch leaves with apical half gradually narrowed and not bent outward from base (some species may have leaf tips reflexed outward when dry)...

7. Plants green, yellowish, or brownish with no traces of red...

10. Apical head with curved branches and thus appearing twisted when viewed from above...

Sphagnum subsecundum

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=spsu9

http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/mosses/Sphagnum_subsecundum.pdf

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200000830

Specimen #7: Wavy Starburst Moss

Atrichum altercristatum 

Figure 1. Atrichum altercristatum. Notice the size of the leaves, wavy ridges, and obvious midrib.

Figure 2. Atrichm altercristatum star-shape pattern

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Polytrichaceae
Species: Atrichum altercristatum
Common name: Wavy Starburst moss
Collection date: September 2015
Collector: Willa Scharlu
Habitat: This specimen was found in a lawn area under an oak tree in South Russel Ohio.
Description: This specimen is acrocarpous with a defined midrib. When wet, the spirally arranged leaves spread out spread out to create a star shape pattern when viewing from above, and the individual leaves are become wavy.
Key used: McKnight, K. B et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

Acrocarps with lance-shaped leaves p. 342
1. Plants darker green, yellow green, or brownish black, shoots loosely associated or if densely packed then not in domed mounds; leaves flat or folded but not tubular, with midrib usually visible at least at base of leaf...
3. Plants on soil, rocks, trees, or logs in dry areas, or if in wetter areas, not submerged in water; leaves not folded at base...
4. leaf surface rippled or wavy when wet...
5. Leaf midrib conspicuous to leaf tip (extra strips of tissue running along their length, visible, as green and white stripes under 20x hand lens)...
6. Midrib fills less than 1/4 width of upper leaf; leaves 0.7-2 mm wide...
7.Plants 1-3 cm tall;  lower stems often matted with rust-colored fuzz...

Atrichum altercristatum

For more information on Atrichum altercristatum please review the following links:
http://www.fnanaturesearch.org/index.php?option=com_naturesearch&task=view&id=1397
https://nhgardensolutions.wordpress.com/tag/wavy-starburst-moss/

Specimen #6: White Moss

Leucobryum albidium

Figure 1. A clump of leucobryum albidium when dry each tick mark is equivalent to 1 ...

Figure 2. A single leucobryum albidium plant when wet notice leaf size each tick mark is equivalent to 1 mm

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Leucobryaceae
Species: Leucobryum albidium
Common name: White Moss/pincushion moss
Collection date: 9/10/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: This specimen was found on the edge of the Triangle Lake Bog in lose clumps.
Description: This moss was found in lose clumps along the edge of a kettle hole bog on the ground. The stems are about 0.5 cm tall (Fig. 1). When first collected, the moss was a lighter green, but after drying out the specimen became a lighter white-green color.
Key used: McKnight K. B. et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the northeast and appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

p. 342 Acrocarps with Lance-Shaped Leaves
1. Plants gray or whitish green (dry) to light green (wet); shoots very densely packed together forming domed mounds; leaves tubular in upper half and seemingly without midrib...
2. Stems less than 1 cm tall; leaves 2-4 mm long; often with capsules...

Leucobryum albidium

For more information on Leucobryum albidium please review the following links:
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/164650-Leucobryum-albidum
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Leucobryum+albidum
https://www.ohio.edu/plantbio/vislab/moss/Jarrod'spage.html

Specimen #5: Wolf's Milk Slime Mold

Lycogala epidendrum

Figure 1. Lycogala epidendrum

Figure 2. Lycogala epidendrum spore mass

Phylum: Mycetozoa
Family:Tuberifaceae
Species: Lycogala epidendrum
Common name: Wolf's Milk Slime Mold
Collection date: 10/8/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat:This specimen was found on moist deadwood in the old growth forest of the James H. Barrow Field Station.
Description: When originally collected, this specimen was a pinkish salmon color, but the next day it had become grayish black (fig. 1).
Key used: Keller, H. W. et al. (1999). Mycomycetes of Ohio: Their systematics, biology and use in teaching. Columbus, Oh; Ohio Biological Survey, College of Biological Sciences, and The Ohio State University.

Key to the Order of Myxomycetes
1. Spores borne internally within fructifications as a  powdery spore mass surrounded by an acellular peridium...
2. Fruiting bodies larger and of various types and shapes, either sessile or stalked; not with the above combination of characters...
3. Capillitium typically absent or, if present, as pseudocapillitium...

Liceales p.52
1. Capillitial threads typically absent, when present as pseudocapillitium, then consisting f wide tubules plates or bristles lacking ornamentation; fructifications sporangiate, pseudoaethaloid,or aethaliod...
2. Fruitifications variable in size and type, sporangiate and minute pseudo-aethalioid to aethalioid and large, conspicuous; pseudocapillitium or dictydine granules may be present...
7. Fructification a pseudoaethalium with noticeabe remains of individual sporangia...
9.Pseudoaethalium of fused sporangia with persistent sporangial walls; hypothallus conspicuous, massive, forming a stalk or cushion under a cluster of sporangia...

Tubifera
p. 62 Lycogala epidendrum

For more information on  Lycogala epidendrum please review the following links:
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/wolfs-milk-slime-toothpaste-slime
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/myxomycetes.html
http://urbanmushrooms.com/index.php?id=73

Specimen #4: Anomodon sp.

Anomodon sp.

Figure 1. Anomodon leaf

Figure 2. leaf of Anomodon with midrib

Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Thuidaceae
Genera: Anomodon
Collection date: 9/8/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: This specimen was found on top of a damp log just off an abandoned trail in the old growth forest of the James H. Barrow Field Station.
Description: This specimen is pleurocarpous and growing in thick mats. The leaves are lance shaped with a midrib (fig. 1&2). The sporophyte is orange in color.
Key used: McKnight, K. B. et al. (2013). Princeton field guides: Common mosses of the northeast and appalachians. Princeton, NJ; Princeton University Press.

Pleurocarps with lance-shaped leaves with midrib p. 358
1. Plants creeping or creeping with ascending shoot tips, top of plants rarely more than 3 cm above substrate...
7. Plants terrestrial on soil, rocks, trees, or logs, or if submerged then leaves not folded at base to form pocket...
8. Leaves less than or equal to 2 mm...
9. Plants grow in tangled carpets or mats (not small clusters in line) on various substrates...
10. Shoots lack cluster of tiny branchlets at tips...
11.Plants with crowded, short (less than 1 cm), erect branches arising from creeping stems (resembling carpet pile)...
12. Leaves spreading only slightly from stem, wet or dry; capsule erect...

Anomodon sp.

For more information on Anomodon please review the following links:
http://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/FHR-51622-00001-165
http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200002070

Specime #3: lophocolea heterophylla

Lophocolea heterophylla

Figure 1. Lophocolea heterophylla with forked amphigastria visible

Phylum: Marchantiophyta

Family: Lophocoleaceae

Species: Lophocolea heterophylla

Collection date: 9/17/2015

Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey

Habitat:This specimen was found growing among moss on a damp rock at the South Chagrin Reservation. 

Description: This liverwort was so minuscule that at first I did not it was in my collection until I found it embedded in one of my moss specimen (mnium).  

Key used: Conrad, H. S. (1956). How to know the mosses and liverworts. Dubuque, Ia: WM. C. Brown Company Publishers. 

 Liverworts p. 156

1b. Plants with stems and leaves; erect, ascending, prostate, or hanging from trees..

3a Leaves in 2 rows near upper side of stem, without midrib, and with cells isodiametric. Leaves very often notched at apex, or lobed, sometimes with a smaller lobe folded against a larger one. Sporphyte short-lived...

Order Jungermanniales 

31b. Leaves entire, or toothed, or divided at tip into 2,3, or 4 lobes...

35a leaves flat or curved, not sharply folded...

36b. leaves transversely attached, or succubous: attached obliquely so that the edge of the leaf on upper suface of stem is attached nearer the base of the stem than the lower edge; thus the leaf slopes toward the apex of the stem...

43a. Leaves entire, not at all lobed or toothed (bracts around the perianth are excluded)...

44b. Similar to the above, but calyptra remaining deep within the perianth, which terminates a main shoot; anteridia just below the perianth...

Lophocolea heterophylla

For more information on Lophocolea heterophylla please review the following links:

http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imLopohocoleaHeterophylla.html

http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/liverworts/Lophocolea_heterophylla.pdf

http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Lophocolea+heterophylla

Specimen #2: Marchantia sp.

Marchantia sp. 

Figure 1. Marchantia with gemmae

 Figure 2. Pegged rhizoids of Marchantia

Figure 3. Pore of Marchantia

Figure 4. Air pores of Marchantia sp.

Phylum: Marchantiophyta

Family: Marchantiales

Genera: Marchantia sp.

Collection date: 10/10/2015

Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey

Habitat: This specimen was found in a silty and shady sidealk crack on the Hiram College Campus.
Description: This thalloid liverwort was found with gemmae splash cups (fig. 1). Under the microscope, pegged rhizoids and pores are apparent (fig. 2&3). 

Key used: Conrad, H. S. (1956). How to know the mosses and liverworts. Dubuque, Ia: WM. C. Brown Company Publishers.  

p. 22

1b Plants scale-like or ribbon-like, usually fork-branched and flat on the substrate, often in rosettes, without distinction of stem and leaf; green or purplish...

3b. Cells with numerous small chloroplasts. sporophyte a globular or slightly elongate capuse with or without a fragile watery stalk, lasting only a few days...

Hepaticae p. 156

1a. Plants growing flat, scale-like or ribbon-like, usually fork-branched, without distinction of stem and leaf, green or purplish...

2a. Plants opaque by reasons of air-space inside of it, often showing air-pores and polygonal markings. Rhizoids with pegs on the inside of the walls...

8a. Air pores visible without a lens, each in a polygonal area. Capsules borne on the under side of an umbrella-shaped receptacle, with spirally banded elaters among the spores. Wall cells of capsules with ring-shaped thickenings...

Marchantiaceae p. 158

9a. With open cups or half-cups of dis-shaped gemmae on the thallus...

10a Gemma cups round, fringed; female umbrellas 9-lobed; thallus with think scales along the margins beneath; air pores elliptic...

Genus Marchantia

For more information on Marchantia please review the following links:
http://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/virtuallessons/hepatophyta/
http://2014.igem.org/Team:Cambridge-JIC/Marchantia/Background

Specimen #1: Shaggy Mane Mushroom

Coprinus comatus (Shaggy Mane Mushroom)

Figure 1. Gills of Coprinus comatus


Figure 2. Coprinus comatus with inky cap


Figure 3. Coprinus comatus spore prints

Figure 4. black spores of Coprinus comatus


Figure 5. This image borrowed from dreamstime.com at http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-shaggy-mane-mushroom-image20297266 depicts Coprinus comatus before deliquescence. Note the scales that give the shaggy mane mushroom its name.

Phylum: Basidiomycota
Family: Agaricaceae
Species: Coprinus comatus 
Common name: Shaggy Mane Mushroom
Collection date: 10/8/2015
Collector: Caroline Kaylor Georskey
Habitat: a disturbed grassy area along a road
location: Disturbed area along Hinsdale St. on Hiram College campus
Description: When first collected this specimen was 22 cm tall just over half of which was composed of the cap. The stalk, gills, and cap were white with the exception of light brown scales scattered across the cap. A large annuls was also visible. However, over the next 2 days the cap became black and began to curl upon itself (fig. 2) and oozed a black liquid, which are the spores (fig. 3) .
Key used: Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms demystified: A comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.

Basidiomycotina p. 57
1. Basidia and spores borne externally (on the exposed surface of gills, tubes, spines, branches,
lobes, ect.); spores forcibly discharged at maturity , i.e. a spore print often (but not always) obtainable; fruiting ody with a cap and stalk, or clublike, or branched, or branchetlike, or crustlike (without a stalk or sometimes without a cap) or lobed or bloblike, ect...
2. Not as above (fruiting body is not at first egglike with a gelatinous interior)...

Hymenomycetes p. 57
1. Not as above; pores and tubes absent...
3. underside of cap with radiating blades (gills)...

Agaricales p. 58
1. Not as above; spores forcibly discharged, hence a spore print obtainable if spores are being produced; gills exposed at maturity; common and widespread...
2.Spores some other color (pinkish, salmon, yellow-brown, brown, rusty-orange, rusty-brown, chocolate-brown, purplish, greenish, black, ect.)...
10. spore print some shade of orange, brown, green, purple, gray, or black...
16. Not as above (spore print greenish to grayish-olive)...
19. Spore print purple-brown to purple-gray, purple-black, smoky-gray, black, chocolate-brown, or deep brown...
20. Not as above; gills free to adnexed, adnate, or occasionally decurrent...
20. Gills and/or cap auto-digesting (i.e. turning into an inky black mass) at maturity; spore print black

Coprinacaea p. 341
1. Mature gills (and often the cap) digesting themselves, i.e. either turning into an inky black fluid or withering away)...

Coprinus p. 342
1. Growing on dung, manure, straw, or compost...
2. partial veil typically forming a distinct annulus (ring) on stalk...
3. Not as above; fruiting body larger...
4. Cap 2 cm high when unexpanded; at first entirely white or white with brown scales...

Coprinus camatus p. 345

For more information on Coprinus camatus please review the following links:
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinus_comatus.html
http://americanmushrooms.com/edibles5.htm
http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/coprinus-comatus.html#sthash.JPNdm1A8.dpbs