Specimen 20: Xylaria polymorpha

Figure 1: X. polymorpha found sticking out of a log upright.

Figure 2: Large, thick black fruiting body of X. polymorpha. No branches present.

Name: Xylaria polymorpha
Phylum: Ascomycota
Family: Xylariaceae
Common Name: Dead man's fingers
Collection Date: 10/08/2015
Habitat: On top of decaying log
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Black hard, club-like fungal body standing upright.  About 8 cm tall and 1 cm wide.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used:
Arora, D. (1979, 1986). Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd edition. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, California.

Keying Steps:
Key to major groups of fleshy fungi:
Fruiting body erect, club-like.... Earth Tongues pg. 865

Key to the Helotiales
1. Fruiting body various shaped.... 4
4. Flesh not gelatinous or rubbery gelatinous..... 5
5. Fruiting body erect, clublike, black, growing out of wood... 6
6. Entire fruiting body is black.... Geoglossium & Trichglossium pg. 866

Key to Geoglossium & Trichglossium pg. 866
1. Fruiting body roughened and velvety, growing out of wood.... Pyrenomycetes pg. 878

Key to Pyrenomycetes pg. 878
1. Growing out of wood.... 2
2. Fruitng body black.... Xylaria & Daldinia pg.885

Key to Xylaria & Daldinia pg. 885
1. Fruiting body erect, clublike.... 2
2. Fruiting body unbranched.... 3
3. Fruiting body tough, up to 3 cm thick, flesh inside is white.... Xyaria polymorpha

Specimen 19: Poria corticola

Figure 1: P. corticola has hardened, large pores. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 2: The white, respinate fruiting bodies of P. corticola found on a stick.

Figure 3: Side view of P. corticola. Stalk is clearly absent. (Magnification x8.4)

Name: Poria corticola
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Family: Polyporaceae
Common Name: Boring Poria
Collection Date: 10/08/2015
Habitat: On a stick found on the forest floor of maple-beech forest.
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Hard, white, stalkless, resupinate fruiting body, with hard spiky pores covering its surface. Each body around 2-7 cm long.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used:  
Arora, D. (1979, 1986). Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd edition. Ten Speed Press. Berkeley, California.

Keying steps:
Key to the Major Groups of Fleshly Fungi.... Teeth Fungi pg. 611

Key to teeth fungi pg. 611
1. Not growing on conifer cones.... 2
2. Fruiting body not rubbery.... 3
3. Growing on wood..... 4
4. Fruiting body resupinate,,,,, Echinodontium and Allies.
Key to Echinodontium and Allies
1. Stalk not present..... 2
2. Entire fruiting body white to yellowish.... 3
3. Not growing in overlapping shelving masses.... 4
4. Pore present, form spines upon  old age.... Polyporaceae and Allies pg. 549

Key to Polyporaceae and Allies pg. 551
1. Spore bearing surface not composed of tubes.... 2
2. Fruiting body crust-like, stalk absent.... 4
4. Pore surface exposed, not on a birch.... 5
5. Tube layer not waxy.... 6
6, Fruiting body rusupinate.... Poria and Allies pg. 602

Key to Poria and Allies pg. 602
1. Spore-bearing surface composed of a layer of tubes.... 2
2. Spore-bearing surface not normally violet tinged..... 4
4. Pore surface white to yellow.... 7
7.  Flesh white to creamy.... 10
10. Not living on juniper or cypress.... 11
11. Fruiting body not woody when fresh.... 12
12. No rudimentary cap.... 14
14. Pore surface not bright yellow, not found on dead conifers.... 15
15. Fruiting body not growing underground.... 16
16, Pores larger than 4-6 pores per mm.... Poria corticola

Specimen 18: Trichia decipiens

Figure 1: Orange fruiting bodies found hiding on the side of a log.

Figure 2: After a few days, fruiting bodies turned dark. (Magnification x60)

Figure 3: Fruiting body is distinictly a sporangium. The stalk is short. (Magnification x108)

Figure 4: The fruiting bodies were often found in crowded clusters. (Magnification x30)

Name: Trichia decipiens
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Family: Trichiidae
Common Name: Slime mold
Collection Date: 10/08/2015
Habitat: On the side of a decaying log, in a crack. 
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Fruiting body is bright orange and round, short stalked sporangium, about 1 mm tall. Bodies found in a huddled cluster. The body turned dark brown a few days after it was collected.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: 
Stephenson, S. L. and Stempen, H. 1994. Myxomycetes: A handbook of slime molds. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.

Keying steps:
Key to the Orders of Myxomycetes
1. Spore mass within fruiting body, enclosed by a peridium…. 2
2. True capillitium present…. 3

3. Fruiting bodies (<0.3 mm in diameter and >0.5 mm tall), stalked…. 4

4. Spore mass brightly, capillitium conspicuously scultured…. Order Trichales

Order Trichales Key

1. Fruiting body stalked....2

2. Sporangia with well-developed stalk.... 6

6. Sorangia yellowish.... 8

8. Sporangia yellowish.... 9

9. Sporangia typical crowded, short stalked.... 10

10. Capilitium not noticably elastic..... Trichia decipens

Specimen 17: Flavoparmelia

Figure 1:  Flavoparmelia attached to a tree.

Figure 2: Close-up on Flavoparmelia's bumpy upper cortex. (Magnification x24)

Figure 3: Body of Flavoparmelia is foliose: heavily lobed. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 4: Flavoparmelia upper cortex is yellow-green, no fungal fruiting body structures are present.(Magnification x8.4)

Figure 5: Medulla of Flavoparmelia is white, and the black lower cortex is present.

(Magnification x40)

Name: Flavoparmelia
Phylum: Ascomycota
Family: Parmeliaceae
Common Name: Lichen
Collection Date: 09/03/2015
Habitat: On a tree
Location: Hiram College Campus, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Light green, foliose, multiple lobed thallus. Has visible three layers: a black lower cortex, a white medulla, and green upper cortex. Small rhizines are present on the lower cortex. Upper cortex very bumpy.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used:  
Showman, R. E. and Flenniken, J. G. 2004. The Marcolichens of Ohio. Ohio Biological Survey. Columbus, Ohio. 

Keying steps:
Key to the Genera of Ohio Marcolichens
1. Thallus foliose... 2
2. Thallus yellow-green... 4
4. Thallus not gelatinous when wet... 6
6. Rhizines present from lower surface... 11
11. Perinthecia absent.... 13
13.  Thallus not umbilicate, broadly attached to the substrate with scatter rhizines, on bark.... 15
15. Thallus contains green algae... 19
19. Medulla white... 24
24. Thallus various without paw-shaped or fist-shaped lobes.... 26
26. Lower surface with cortex though out, lobe narrow or broad... 30
30. Thallus without pores.... 35
35. Thallus yellow-green.... 56
56. Lobes broad, apically rounded, 3-10 mm wide... 57
57. Margins of lobes not cillate.... 58
58. Upper surface without white pores..... Flavoparmelia 

Specimen 16: Colypageia

Figure 1: Clump of Colypageia attached to dirt side-wall.

Figure 2: Leaves grow in two rows attached to a stem, like a typical leafy liverwort.

 (Magnification x24)

Figure 3: Another close-up of the specimen. (Magnification x24)

Figure 4: Leaves of Colypageia clearly are in an incubous arrangement. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 5: Leaves are not lobed and are entire. (Magnification x40)

Name: Colypageia
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Colypageiaceae
Common Name: leafy liverwort
Collection Date: 11/06/2015
Habitat: In a wooded area, on the side of a a dirt cliff.
Location: Hiram College Campus, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Leafy liverwort with incubous leaf arrangement, leaves are toothed slightly. Grows in big clusters, yellow-green color. Each branch is about 1 cm long.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used:
Conard, H. S. 1956. How to know the mosses and liverworts. WM. C. Brown Company Publishers. Dubuque, Iowa.

Keying steps:
Pictured-Key to Liverworts of North America
1b. Plants with stem and leaves... 3
3a. Leaves in two rows near upper side of stem, no midrib, Order Jungermanniales... 31
31a. Leaves entire... 35
35a. Leaves flat, not sharply folded.... 36
36b. Leaves incubous.... 37
37b. Leaves entire... 38
38b. Leaves entire.... Genus Calypageia

Specimen 15 Volvox

Figure 1: Colonial, spherical group of Volvox. It's green color suggest it has chloroplasts. (Magnification x400)

Name: Volvox
Phylum: Chlorophyta
Family: Volvocaceae
Common Name: Green algae
Collection Date: 09/20/2015
Habitat: In a small pond.
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Unicellular and colonial. Cells group together as a hollow, spiky sphere. Green and microscopic. 
Collector: Caroline

Key used: 
Rainis, K. G. and Russell B. J. (1996). Guide to Microlife. Franklin Watts. Danbury Connecticut.

Keying steps:
Quick Identification Chart for Protists pg 78
1b. Organism with stalk floating.... 3
3b. Colored.... 4
4a. Cells are green and contain chloroplasts.... 5
5b. Cells not arranged in green filaments.... 6
6b. Group of cells, lacking glass like walls.... Green, Yellow-green Protists pg. 134

Ball-shaped colony, shallow pond, <1 mm.... Volvox

Specimen 14: Plagiomnium cuspidatum

Figure 1: P. cuspidatum on a crowded log; species indicated with red arrows

Figure 2: P. cuspidatum hidden in a clump taken from a log.

Figure 3: P. cuspidatum is about 12 mm tall and arcocarpus. Leaves are attached all the way down of the stem.

 (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 4: Teeth on a leave are most prominent near the tip. (Magnification x40)

Figure 5: Midrib of P. cuspidatum is very obvious. Leaves are round and ovate. (Magnification x38.4)

Name: Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Mniaceae
Common Name: Baby toothed moss
Collection Date: 10/08/2015
Habitat: On decaying log in a maple-beech forest
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Acrocarpus, dark-colored moss, with large ovate, toothed leaves about 3 mm long. The midrib is very noticeable and its stem is thick. No branches, only one single stalk, about 1.2 cm tall.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey.

Keying steps:
Key Features Path to the Keys (pg. 16):
Key Feature 1: Growth Form.... acrocarp
Key Feature 2: Leaf Shape.... ovate acrocarp
Key Structure 3: Midrib..... ovate acrocarp with midrib... Key III pg. 350

KEY VIII Acrocarps with ovate leaves 
1. Plants 1-15 cm tall.... 6
6. Leaf margins toothed at least near the tip.... 7
7. Leaves attached along entire length of stem.... 8
8. Leaf margin toothed near tip but toothless in basal half of leaf.... 11
11. Leaves with pale thickened border.... 13
13. Teeth along leaf margin are single.... Plagiomnium cuspidatum

Specimen 13: Thuidium delicatulum

Figure 1: The big, feathery moss is the T. delicatulum, taken from the log behind it.

Figure 2: Pinnated branch of T. delicatulum (Magnification x12)

Figure 3: Another close up of T. delicatulum when wet. (Magnification x8.4)

 Figure 4: Leaves of T. delicatulum are very tiny, less than 1 mm, and are ovate-shaped. (Magnification x38.4)

Figure 5: T. delicatulum is pinnatted two times, one of its defining characteristics. 

(Magnification x8.4)

Figure 6: Some dry branches of T. delicatulum show the leaves curled inward, close to the stem. (Magnification x12)

Figure 7: The midrib is present, but very small and easy to miss. (Magnification x40)

Name: Thuidium delicatulum
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Mniaceae
Common Name: Delicate fern moss
Collection Date: 10/08/2015
Habitat: On decaying log in a maple-beech forest
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description:  Appearance looks like a miniature fern. Leaves are tiny (less than 1 mm long), ovate, and branched tightly. The midrib is very tiny and easy to miss. Stems are not completely attached to the ground and are pinnated. 
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey.

Keying steps:
Key Features Path to the Keys (pg. 16):
Key Feature 1: Growth Form.... Pleurocarp
Key Feature 2: Leaf Shape.... ovate pleurocarp
Key Structure 3: Midrib..... ovate pleurocarp with midrib... Key VIII 

KEY VIII Pleurocarps with ovate leaves with midrib
1. Plants pinnately branched (like a fern).... 2
2. Stems 2-3x pinnated..... 3
3. Stem leaves not pleated, tip close to stem with dry...... Thuidium delicatulum

Specimen 12: Weissia controversa

Figure 1: W. controversa attached to a rock. Individual shoots are densely packed together. 

Figure 2: Capsule of W. controversa is ungrooved when dry, and egg shaped. (Magnification x19.2)

Figure 3: Capsule plus seta are about 7 mm tall. (Magnification x15)

Figure 4: Shoots of W. controversa are acrocarpus, measuring about 5 mm tall. 

Leaves are about 1 mm long.(Magnification x15)

Figure 5: Leaves are lance-shaped and without midrib. (Magnification x40)

Name: Weissia controversa
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Pottiaceae
Common Name: Pigtail moss
Collection Date: 09/15/2015
Habitat: Attached to a rock wall, forest area. 
Location: South Chagrin Reservation, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Description: Small, cushion appearance. Leaves are tiny, about 1 mm, and lance-shaped. No midrib is present. Capsules are upright, operculate, and egg-shaped; sporophyte about 7 mm tall. Plants dark green when wet, and acrocarpus, about 5 mm tall.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey

Keying steps:

Growth from.... acrocarpus
Leaf shape.... lance-like acrocarpus

Midrib..... lance like acrocarpus without midrib..... Key II pp. 342

Key II pp. 342

1. Plants darker green, densely packed but not in domed mounds, leaves folded... 3

3. Plants on rocks, leaves not folded at base..... 4

4. leaf surface not rippled or wavy when wet.... 9

9. Leaves <4 mm long.... 21

21. Leaves spreading in various directions, lacking brood branchlets.... 22

22. Plants 0.2-2 cm tall.... 34

34. Plants growing on rocks, soil.... 39

39. Shoots not surrounded by persisent protonema.... 40

40. Leaves not at all bluish and not cobwebby or moldy in appearance.... 41

41. Leaves strongly contorted when dry, twisted and curled.... 42

42. Capsules upright, not grooved when dry.... 43

43. Capsules goblet or egg shaped, up to 1 mm long, stalk 2-8 mm tall.... 45

45. Leaves 1-2 mm long... 46

46. Capsule rim with tiny teeth.... 47

47. Plants yellow green, stalks 3-8 mm.... Weissia controversa pg. 81

Specimen 11: Lycogala epidendrum

Figure 1: Orange aethalium fruiting body found on a log.

Figure 2: Older grayish fruiting body found on a different log.

Figure 3: Close up of fruiting body. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 4: Side view of fruiting body. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 5: Another side view of L. epidendrum. (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 6: L. epidendrum has no stalk, and spore mass not present outside of the body.

 (Magnification x8.4)

Name: Lycogala epidendrum
Phylum: Mycetozoa
Family: Tubiferaceae
Common Name: Wolf's milk 
Collection Date: October 8, 2015 
Habitat: On top of decaying logs in a beech-maple forest.
Location: James H. Barrow Field Station, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Spherical shaped; shiny, smooth skin. Younger specimens are bright orange and become dark gray to gray-brown in age. Approximately a centimeter in diameter. Stalkless, aethalium body attached securely to wood substrate.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used:
Stephenson, S. L. and Stempen, H. 1994. Myxomycetes: A handbook of slime molds. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon.

Keying steps:
Key to the Orders of Myxomycetes
1. Spore mass inside fruiting body, enclosed by the peridium.... 2
2. True capillitium absent.... Order Liceales

1. Fruting body is an aethalium.... 2
2. Pseudocapillitium present.... 4
4. Pseudocapillitium consisting of flattened hyaline tubules; spore pallid.... Lycogala epidendrum

Specimen 10: Anomadon rostratus

Figure 1: A bright green mat of Anomadon rostratus growing beside a tree. 

Figure 2:Leaves are less than two millimeters with costa present (Magnification x15)

Name: Anomadon rostratus
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Thuidiaceae
Common Name: Yellow yarn moss
Collection Date: September 4, 2015 
Habitat: On the ground, near the base of an old tree. In a backyard setting.
Location: Hiram College campus, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Bright, green, thick pleurocarpic moss. Leaves are approximately 1 mm long, lance-shaped with a midrib and are abundant and compact on branches, making the branches look fuzzy.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey.

Keying steps:
Key Features Path to the Keys (pg. 16):
Key Feature 1: Growth Form.... Pleurocarp
Key Feature 2: Leaf Shape.... lance-like pleurocarp
Key Structure 3: Midrib..... lance-like pleurocarp with midrib... Key VI pg. 358

Key VI: Pleurocarps with lance-shaped leaves with midrib
1, Plants rarely more than 3 cm. above substrate... 7
7. Terrestrial.... 8
8. Leaves less than 2mm long...... 9
9. Grows in tangled carpets or mats.... 10
10. Shoots lack cluster of branchlets at tips...... 11
11. Plants crowded, short branches arising from creeping stems...... 12
12. Leaves spreading only slightly from the stem..... Anomadon rostratus (pg. 217)

Specimen 9: Hygroamblystegium varium

Figure 1: Clump of H. varium on cement.

Figure 2: Tiny leaves less than a millimeter long. (Magnification x24)

Figure 3: Branches of H. varium overlay each other, forming a mat (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 4: Leaves with costa slightly parted from the branch. (Magnification x75.5)

Name: Hygroamblystegium varium
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Amblystegiaceae
Common Name: Tangled Thread Moss
Collection Date: September 3, 2015 
Habitat: On cement in a backyard-like setting, tucked under debris of dead grass.
Location: Hiram College campus, Hiram, Ohio
Description: Dark grayish-green, pleurocarpus moss with tiny leaves about less than 1 mm long. Leaves have midrib and are lance-shaped. Grows in a clamp, branches overlaying each other.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey

Keying steps:
Key Features Path to the Keys (pg. 16):
Key Feature 1: Growth Form.... Pleurocarp
Key Feature 2: Leaf Shape.... lance-like pleurocarp
Key Structure 3: Midrib..... lance-like pleurocarp with midrib... Key VI pg. 358

Key VI: Pleurocarps with lance-shaped leaves with midrib (pg. 358)
1, Plants rarely more than 3 cm. above substrate... 7
7. Terrestrial.... 8
8. Leaves less than 2 mm long...... 9
9. Grows in tangled carpets or mats.... 10
10. Shoots lack cluster of branchlets at tips...... 11
11. Plants crowded, short branches arising from creeping stems...... 12
12. Leaves spread atleast 45 degrees from the stem when wet..... 13
13. Leaves 1-2 mm long...... Hygroamblystegium varium

Specimen 8: Polytrichum commune

Figure 1: P. commune loosely grouped together. 

Figure 2: Four sided capsule of P. commune with green spores inside.

Figure 3: Acrocarpus gametophyte with very tall sporophyte (Magnification x8.4)

Figure 4: Long lance shaped leaves with costa and small teeth. (Magnification x24)

Name: Polytrichum commune
Phylum: Bryophyta
Family: Polytrichaceae
Common Name: Common Haircap Moss
Collection Date: September 10, 2015
Habitat: Bog area, on ground.
Location: Triangle Lake Bog State Nature Preserve, Ravenna, Ohio
Description: Tall, acrocarpus moss about 6 cm tall. Individual branches squished together tightly like a mat. Leaves lance like.  Tall sporophyte (about 4 cm tall). Leaves are about 6 cm long.
Collector: Linden Glaze

Key used: McKnight, Karl B. et al. 2013. Common Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton University Texts, New Jersey

Keying steps:
Key Features Path to the Keys (pg. 16):
Key Feature 1: Growth Form.... Acrocarp
Key Feature 2: Leaf Shape.... lance-like leaves, acrocarp
Key Structure 3: Midrib..... lance-like arcocarp with midrib... Key II pg. 342

Key II: Acrocarps with lance like leaves (pg. 342)
1. Plants yellow green, with shoots loosely associated, midrib present..... 3
3. Not submerged in water, found on soil,,,, 4
4. Leaf surface not wavy when wet.... 9
9. Leaves mostly greater than 4 mm..... 10
10. Wet leaves thick, stiff and opaque when held to the light when wet, resembles pine needles, midrib difficult to see... 14
14. Leaf margin toothed expect along the base...... 17
17. Capsules 4 sided like a box..... 19
19. Capsules with a disk at attachment to stalk..... Polytrichum commune (pg 57)