As happens, we missed a couple, and a few days ago I came across one of these strays. I was about to scoop it up with a shovel and toss it into the woods when I noticed something peculiar about it. It was polka-dotted.
Sigh.
I knew what I had to do—get out my loupe so I could closely inspect, yes, my dog's doodoo. This is the life of an ascomycetes freak. And here's what I saw, which, precisely because I've turned into an ascomycetes freak, was exciting:
Immature Pseudombrophila porcina on dog feces. |
I'd obviously found a coprophilic fungus. A dung lover. But which one? There are lots to choose from, especially from the ascomycetes clan. "Lots" is a good thing—I don't know about everybody else but I like the idea of animal dung being broken down and returned to the earth as quickly as possible, and fungi are perfect for the job.
Immature Pseudombrophila look like tiny beads. |
Mature Pseudombrophila porcina are still tiny. |
Pseudombrophila porcina spores. |
The spores were smooth and the tips of the paraphyses were not inflated, so it looks like mine are Pseudombrophila porcina.
I hate to say it, but as unpleasant as animal dung might be, for people like me it's still worth taking a closer look.
References:
Pseudombrophila porcina on MycoquebecPseudombrophila merdaria on Mycoquebec
Ascomycete Fungi of North America: A Mushroom Reference Guide, Michael Beug, Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, University of Texas Press, 2014
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