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