14 October 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Fruiting Body Tongue like, blade flattened, often grooved lengthwise, surface slimy then dry, black, stem cylindrical, surface slimy, dark brown to black, to about 5 cm high Flesh Brittle, blackish Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season Autumn Distribution Rare Habitat Unimproved grassland Microscopic Features Ascospores long and thin, rod-like, 3-7 septa when mature (60-90) x (4-6) µm2 Edibility Generally considered as inedible, though there is at least one report of it being consumed with no ill effects. In any case the small size, rarity and unknown toxicity mean that it is best left Notes This species cannot be identified without microscopy. This is one of two UK species of Earth Tongue with a slimy surface, the other being G. uliginosum 
14 October 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
14 October 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Ascospore viewed with a x100 immersion objective. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |