American Nightshade (Solanum americanum)

2/27/2012
So... I happened upon something incredibly interesting... Remember that red berried plant a few posts back, that I could not identify? http://procezzed.blogspot.com/2012/02/red-berries.html .. Yeah THAT. well... I found another one. However... this one had BLACK berries. same leaves, same size, same EVERYTHING... except for berries. How CURIOUS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_americanum
I think I've finally solved it. After finally searching based on the FLOWER and not the berry, I found a blog that featured a post on the 'American Nightshade'. Scientifically 'Solanum americanum'. Now I just have to figure out the details of the red berried plant I found before. It MUST be related because the two are so similar.

Crane fly (Tipula Sayi)

2/27/2012

Happened upon two mosquito hawks mating... got a few shots.

however I found a phenomenal website in which one may ID these crane flies. http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/idkeys.htm#11A

however it is MUCH more helpful if the identifier has an actual sample and not just a picture, like I do. hopefully I'll run into another one of these guys and get a sample to ID. 

http://bugguide.net/node/view/76457/bgim... 

I took a second look and I think this actually might be it. This guy is very common in the southern US. Characteristic-wise, she also has the pale spots on her wings and the projections right behind her wings.

Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)

2/27/2012

Interesting weed discovered growing in the garden bed. Only about 10 cm tall. It had a square stem which tells me it's related to the mint. The leaves are somewhat heart shaped and are 

I was just browsing this website looking for some weed characteristics and it said something about a square stem. Which I noticed ^^ the example it had was 'henbit'. Googled it and, sure enough. Perfect match.http://polkhort.ifas.ufl.edu/Power%20Point%20presentations/Weed%20Identification%20and%20Control%20in%20the%20Florida%20LandscapePCMGS2007.pdf

Conducting a checklist based on the characteristics stated on the website:http://www.weedalert.com/weed_pages/wa_henbit.htm

leaves are rounded on the end with rounded toothed edges YES

grow opposite one another YES

square stems DEFINATELY

upper leaves lack petioles YES

grow from 4 to 12 inches tall on weak stems YEP

weak stems sprouting from the bottom may lay almost horizontal ABSOLUTELY

okay. I'm doubtless at this point. Henbit. Lamium amplexicaule

Pill bug (Armadillidium)

2/27/2012

Found these little guys underneath an old frisbee if you'll believe that. They were all clustered on some pinestraw when I flipped it over and so I scooped them up onto the frisbee to get some pictures. 

When I was a kid we used to play with them and call them roly polys.

They're small armadillo-like insects with 14 legs. They have 8 armor-like places across their back and two segmented antennae poking out from the front of their shells. each is only about a centimeter long and a half centimeter wide. They get their name from when they are startled, they roll up into a ball and completely protect themselves and their fragile underbellies with their outer armor. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidiidae

^^ found this link describing and explaining the insect. They are also referred to as pillbugs. 

"In the United States, sowbugs and pillbugs may be found in and around homes wherever there is a combination of excessive moisture and an abundance of decaying organic matter. The majority of isopods are aquatic forms, and obtain their oxygen through gills, but the sowbugs and pillbugs breathe by means of tubelike invaginations or pseudotracheae, enabling them to live on land. However, the pseudotracheae open to the exterior by a single pore which lacks the spiracular closing device possessed by other arthropods. Some respiration also takes place through the integument of the body"

-http://www.entomology.ucr.edu/ebeling/ebel10.html#sowbugs%20and%20pillbugs

(see picture to the right) It's definitely a pill bug, I have seen these before however. The specimen I found did not have bent antennae like the sowbug and they also did not have the uropod extending from the backside. Another obvious feature was the fact that the pillbugs I found rolled up into a solid ball with no visible head or legs.   

The best identification I can apply is the genus Armadillidium. There are 178 species in the genus and a majority of them do not have any resources on the internet to assist me in correctly identifying the genus AND species. I'm fairly certain, however, that I'm correct in my choice of genus. 

Tulostoma lloydii

2/27/2012

found an interesting cluster of puffball mushrooms. I simply looked down and noticed some small white dots on the ground. On close examination, I discovered 12 puffball mushrooms with rust-colored stipe. These were all ranging from 2 cm to 4. They all had a somewhat bulbous stipe base with some roots. 

Tulostoma lloydii

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/tulostoma_lloydii.html

I mean... nailed it...

^^ left: cross section, top: cap, middle: spores, right: whole 

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9197563

White Dunce Cap (Conocybe lactea)

2/27/2012
located another cap mushroom. This one was all alone in a bed of pine leaf litter as well as oak and some other unidentified materials.
cap is convex/ dome shaped. Colored slightly brown on the cap. Stipe is hollow and about 6 cm.
very difficult to ID because of the lack of distinct features. Grey/brown spores.

3/20/2012
Took a visit to the local library and flipped through the pages of National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms
Possibly:
White Dunce Cap (560) Conocybe lactea
Matches the description pretty well
http://urbanmushrooms.com/index.php?id=26
look alikes stated as: C. crispa and Brown Cone head (C. tenera)
Not Conocybe crispa and not conocybe tenera...
Only option at this point is Conocybe lactea, let me see if I can gather more information on the fungus.

I believe the ID is correct, White Dunce Cap it is!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conocybe_apala
Notice such defining characteristics as hollow stipe and brown/ reddish-brown spores.

 

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9198542

White velvety cap

2/27/2012
another spotting of a cap mushroom with gills.
This one was quite a find! It was growing, I'm not sure if it was on or just right next to, a fallen camphor tree. Two caps were found!
characteristics:
Cap:
3 cm diameter
velvety feel
one is completely white
other mostly white, but has orangish/ brown spot
both had weird cap-like thing on top. wart-like but not suite. unsure
convex to shield shaped
Gills:
free
white
Stipe:
curved
volva present
Other:
rather fragile

Spores:

cinnamon brown

^^located under some brush lucky I spotted it!

3/20/2012 

Took a visit to the local library and flipped through the pages of National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms

The only possibility I encountered was the Tiny Volvariella (678)
No, the description of the volvariella would require it to be too small, the spore print to be salmon-pink, and pink gills. The specimen I found cannot be.
I found a website that stated that Volvariella hypopithys is a look alike so I'm going to look into that.
I cannot find a reputable description that matches the specimen but I feel I am intensely close.
Volvariella volvacea is another speciation, and a viable possibility.
http://www.shroomery.org/11298/Volvariella-volvacea
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/volvariella_volvacea.html
however, once again, unless I was completely wrong in my spore print... the spores are not salmon pink....
The only thing that makes me second guess myself is... See the first picture there, right below all this text. The spot on that cap looks salmony-pink possibly. Then that same cap, later on in the post when I took the caps inside and took pictures there, turns out to be cinnamon brown. The possibility I am discussing here, is that what if the natural light hits the spores differently and makes it seems to be different colors from artificial light. I suppose I could take the old spore print outside and check it out if I still have it, which I believe I do, and see if it changes. 

^^ spore print placing. Not finished yet. Will get back and update later

^^ moved the placing around a little. Cinnamon brown spores. Moist cap got the print somewhat wet. Seems like there might have been some wind disturbance coming from the top of the picture? Sealed container... O.O

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9106672

unIdentified russula

2/27/2012

So it's been raining a ton lately and I decided it was a good time to go and try to find some caps.

This was the first one I found. It was lying exactly as it can be seen in the first picture. the cap was disconnected from the stipe. It was growing in between a camelia and a crepe myrtle. 

I'm gonna flip through my field guide and see if I can identify it before I go into extensive details about it. 

due to cap features, I believe it's in the Russula family. 

meep.. no luck. 

characteristics:

Cap:

3 cm diameter

orangish/ burgundy color

convex to shield shaped

Gills:

yellow

free

pale yellow spore print

Stipe:

yellow

simple

no volva

3/20/2012 

Took a visit to the local library and flipped through the pages of National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms

Possibly:

a) False Caesar's Mushroom (542)

b) Blackish-Red Russula (703)

c) Emetic Russula (701)

a) Amanita parcivolvata

Matches most of description except for that the spore print is not white

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_parcivolvata.html

Apparently there is much diversity in the shape of this mushroom, and that it is a definite posibility that the cap I found is just a flattened version of the mushroom. Will keep looking though, spore print had a definite yellow tint.

b) Russula krombholzii

Matches description except cap rather small, "Cap:2 3/8 - 4 3/4 [in] (6-12 cm)". Spore print matches! However the stem and gill color is too white.

Lookalikes R. fragilis, check that out here shortly. 

c) Russula emetica

Description of c is closer to specimen than b was.  

http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6008.asp

Everything fits except for the yellow flesh tint, the book's description says that that is a possibility but I don't find any references online that corroborate that statement. 

http://www.morelmushroomhunting.com/russula_emetica.htm

maybe the yellowing was something that occured with age? One cannot be certain.

d) Russula fragilis 

description does not match in many instances, spore print not white, flesh not white, and gills not attached (I think)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russula_fragilis

nope

It seems as if C is my best option, so I wonder what else I can find regarding it.

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_fungi_sci&where-genre=Fungi&where-taxon=Russula+emetica&title_tag=Russula+emetica

The cap images match perfectly and some of them have a yellow tint to their flesh. 

This ID is correct, I'm fairly certain at this point.

5/16/2012
while browsing a database after finding another russula, I stumbled upon the Russula cessans. SEE.
actually a valid possibility so I'm going to look at the details again.
Then again, LOOK HERE, it might be a russula cystidiosa. this is getting complicated...

^^ how I found the cap. disconnected.

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9198537

Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

2/27/2012

spotted a woodpecker in a nearby tree. Very pretty. I would like to identify it!

Simply searched red woodpecker florida and one of the first options was the red-bellied woodpecker. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-bellied_Woodpecker

I could see it better then the camera could capture it, because of the distance I guess, but this is almost spot on. 

(Melanerpes carolinus)

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9106669

Violet Woodsorrel (Olaxis violacea)

2/27/2012

pretty purple flowers in my backyard

they kind of resemble the violet I identified a few days ago. however these seem to grow along with a clover that is ALL over the yard. Definately specified as a pest/ weed. 

I googled clover because the leaves of the plant are very similar to a clover. I figured out after awhile that it had some relation to the wood sorrel. Through a few minutes of browsing I finally settled on the violet woodsorrel. (Olaxis violacea)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_violacea

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9198534

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

2/27/2012

gound vine to identify

5 leaflets per petiole, 

2 petioles per stalk

leaves:

leanceolate

toothed

branched veins

rounded base

younger leaves had a reddish-green tint

identified as virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9202359

Coralberry (Arsidia crenata)

2/27/2012

forraging and exploring, once again!

first off, found a small shrub that produced bright red berries

should be pretty straightforward

characteristics:

leaves:

8 cm long 

2.5 cm wide

branched veins

leanceolate shape

pointed

sinuate/ wavy edge

berries:

red

.7 cm diameter

reddish stem

while trying to identify a wildflower, I ran upon this listed under "CAUTION INVASIVE SPECIES" 

well, at least now I know what it is!

http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/ardis_c.cfm

it's called coralberry, or christmas berry. (Arsidia crenata)

"Coral ardisia is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (a non-governmental organization) as a category I species, defined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting native plant communities in Florida. In many areas, coral ardisia has become a significant pest. " - floridata

Fascinating. However I find no disruption present so, I am not going to interfere with this plant's life.

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9202358

Inocybe cap?

2/24/2012
found a curious little gilled cap!


cap: 
3 cm diameter
convex to umbonate shape
coloring: radial gradient with dark brown in middle to beige/ tan on the edges
damage to cap apparent, unknown cause
gills: 
free
coloring: alloy orange
spores: 
alloy orange
stipe: 
8 cm long
slightly bulbous at base
white
no ring present
other: 
no brittle tissue
no lactating or bleeding milk when injured
no apparent bruising
growing solitary, not any others in sight
growing in leaf litter, not attached to decomposing wood or live tree


possibly
collybia cirrhat
Melanoleuca 

phaeocollybia

conocybe

psathyrella


http://www.tanelorn.us/data/mycology/myc_id1.htm

3/20/2012 

Took a visit to the local library and flipped through the pages of National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms

Possibilities:

a) Blue Foot Psilocybe (719)

b) Black-Nipple Fiber Head (629)

a) Psilocybe caerulipes

Description very similar except a few details. No bruising was apparent on my specimen but with the Blue-Foot Psilocybe, Greenish blueing bruising occurs when handling. Also The range stated is from Maine to North Carolina. That is a pretty far stretch from Florida, which is my location. 

b) Inocybe fuscodisca 

Description is iffy, gills of my specimen are not attached and I don't remember it being fibrous. However at the end of the description, the comments state that "This is one of the few easily recognized inocybes among more than 500 species in North America." Which leads me to believe that my specimen might be a variety of the inocybe and not featured in the book. It might be on some online source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Inocybe_species

Further exploration necessary..

sample broke when trying to remove from surroundings