I have already shared this on the Skye Naturalists’ Network Facebook page, but for those of you who do not see that…..
Something for later in the year from Brian Douglas, Community Fungus Survey Leader for the Lost and Found Fungi project:
Brian says: “Skye is particularly good for earthtongues (notably Microglossum and Trichoglossum species). Thanks to past surveys of Skye (and notably a 2011 Kew/SNH survey) Kew has a lot of specimens from Skye with precise grid references, and some are either new species to science, or species which need more taxonomic work to resolve/stabilise the concepts. Unfortunately most of these specimens lack good photographs, and colours when fresh are extremely important characters for these species. So, if you know anyone on Skye who would enjoy the challenge of tracking down and photographing a few important populations later on this year using our 8fig grid references, and collecting a specimen for sequencing, please let me know. (There’s also a lot more to the earthtongue story if anyone is particularly interested in helping to resolve it!)
You might also be interested in some of the species of the Lost and Found Fungi project (which I coordinate) – there are a handful of interesting species of conservation interest recorded from Skye and the nearby Isle of Canna which we’ve mapped here: http://fungi.myspecies.info/content/north-ebudes-vc104 . More details of the project and these species can be found on our website here: http://fungi.myspecies.info/…/lost-and-found-fungi-project . Smut fungi on sedges such as Carex limosa, C. pulicaris, or indeed smuts on any sedge would be worth keeping an eye out for if anyone happens to have an interest in sedges or wetland plants/biodiversity.
And of course I’m always interested in any plant-associated fungal rarities, if any turn up that I can help ID…”
Anthracoidea kari, the smut on Carex echinata (Star Sedge) is quite widespread on Skye but others seen very rare.
Plants of Skye, Raasay & The Small Isles 