fuligogirl's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Life (Life)Observer
nzlichenDescription
Present on the apothecia of a crustose Lecanora sp. on the bark of a Fraxinus sp. These pink, globules seem to be fungal vegetative propagules (bulbils) of a lichenicolous fungus which may as yet be undescribed.
From their distribution on the apothecia of the lichen I am convinced they have developed in situ and not settled there from elsewhere. I was informed by James Lawrey that they may belong among the Corticiales. Paul Diederich wrote on Facebook after seeing these images that he believes they are not Marchandiomyces corallinus however I did notice one entry on inaturalist under that name that seems to have a strong resemblance to this specimen:
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/103058730
Photos / Sounds
Observer
jpfnaturalistDescription
Growing on rocks along coastline. I believe this is M. crassifolia as opposed to lookalikes M. angustifolia and M. auklandica based on the blunt look of the leaves and cylindric capsules which are not immersed.
Photos / Sounds
What
pest / disease??Observer
stacey492Description
Help to identify raised brown lumps on underside of griselinia. No visible bug under magnifying glass. No damage on top side of leaf.
Photos / Sounds
What
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)Observer
jon_sullivanDescription
rabbit burrows, browsing (grazing, herbivory) and hieracium (Hieracium pilosella).
ecological impacts
We also saw a lot of rabbits while we were in the reserve.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blue Crystalwort (Riccia crystallina)Observer
rachbaxterDescription
Growing on exposed clay pan from drying lake
Photos / Sounds
What
Syntrichia phaeaObserver
greenschistDescription
abundant reddish black patches on limestone
Photos / Sounds
What
Septoria exoticaObserver
cooperjDescription
New Zealand has two morphologically different leaf spot species on Hebe, with different sequences. Septoria exotica on lesions 1-3mm, pale grey necrotic centre, with sharply defined margin, conidia hyaline, 20-30um x 1.um wide (reference sequences KF251418 Boesewinkel, 1977; OL653047=ICMP23744, Cooper, 2020) .
Pseudophaeophleospora atkinsonii larger lesions 3-8mm diam, brown and less sharply defined margins, conidia yellowish-brown and 25-45 x 2.5um (reference sequence GU214643=ICMP 17860, Hill 2013).
Septoria exotica was described by Spegazzini from a garden plant in Buenos Aries of the New Zealand plant Hebe speciosa, and he comments the species is common in Europe. The New Zealand version might be different but it seems likely we exported Septoria exotica with the host plants in cultivation to Europe and South America.
Pseudophaeospora atkinsonii is one of a number of phylogenetically related endophytes that are commonly isolated in Hebe, Coprosma, Kunzea. They often appear when trying to isolate leaf spot fungi of different species.
In a recent paper ...
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simyco.2017.09.003
They synonimise Pseudophaeophleospora atkinsonii with Septoria exotica on the basis of ICMP 17860 which was always identified as P. atkinsonii. There is no real substantiating evidence. The two species are not synonyms! A similar error was made with Mycospharella coacervata.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red Raspberry Slime Mold (Tubifera ferruginosa)Observer
pjd1Place
Chatham Islands, Rekohu (Chatham Islands), Taia Peninsula, south of Lake Kairangahae, on track to Lake Makuku (Google, OSM)Description
Possibly - a suggestion from a Slime Mold person (Carol Selter) (I had thought it might be a slime mold). Seen once. Noted on bryophyte turf amongst Sporadanthus traversii / Dracophyllum traversii in restiad / heath peat bog. Assumed fruiting bodies pinkish grey, 'worm-like' sausages, moderately firm to touch (structures up to 40 mm diameter but usually less). Associated with abundant Lichenomphalia "Otira Gorge". Specimens collected.
