Fay Newbery
@fayrnhawk.bsky.social
Plant pathologist with an interest in microfungi on plants, lichens, lichenicolous fungi and aquatic hyphomycetes.
The #AquaticHyphomycete online group have another great programme lined up this week. @zimingwang.bsky.social will be talking to us about isolating living spores for culture work. We'll also be talking about the importance of recording these fungi and whether there is a best way to do that.
November 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
The #AquaticHyphomycete online group have another great programme lined up this week. @zimingwang.bsky.social will be talking to us about isolating living spores for culture work. We'll also be talking about the importance of recording these fungi and whether there is a best way to do that.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable, and very informative, first meeting of the online #AquaticHyphomycete group yesterday. @isabelrfernandes.bsky.social gave us methodology and tips for collecting and fixing foam samples.
October 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
We had a thoroughly enjoyable, and very informative, first meeting of the online #AquaticHyphomycete group yesterday. @isabelrfernandes.bsky.social gave us methodology and tips for collecting and fixing foam samples.
I always find Anguillospora species difficult to name so only named Anguillospora crassa. I need my microscope with a x60 objective for those. X40 does give a better depth of field for photography though. I found two spores from my favourite species: Flabellospora accuminata. Absolutely gorgeous.
September 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I always find Anguillospora species difficult to name so only named Anguillospora crassa. I need my microscope with a x60 objective for those. X40 does give a better depth of field for photography though. I found two spores from my favourite species: Flabellospora accuminata. Absolutely gorgeous.
August: Working with only a x10 objective rather than a x20 made the task more difficult but I found nine species. Only seven of these were found in May.
September 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
August: Working with only a x10 objective rather than a x20 made the task more difficult but I found nine species. Only seven of these were found in May.
I’m working backwards through time at this waterfall. September’s sample contained only two spores from #AquaticHyphomycetes: one each of Tricladium splendens and Triscelophorus accuminata.
September 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I’m working backwards through time at this waterfall. September’s sample contained only two spores from #AquaticHyphomycetes: one each of Tricladium splendens and Triscelophorus accuminata.
I collected another sample from this waterfall today. I've now got monthly collections from April to September and I intend to keep collecting through the winter. Just need to find time to look at how the species composition changes through the year.
September 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I collected another sample from this waterfall today. I've now got monthly collections from April to September and I intend to keep collecting through the winter. Just need to find time to look at how the species composition changes through the year.
Snap! A broken off stem in this case, with the seed head lying on the ground.
September 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Snap! A broken off stem in this case, with the seed head lying on the ground.
#AquaticHyphomycetes are sometimes known as Ingoldian fungi. CT Ingold of University College, Leicester was the first researcher to study this group of fungi when he looked at species growing on alder leaves in a stream doi.org/10.1016/S000...
September 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
#AquaticHyphomycetes are sometimes known as Ingoldian fungi. CT Ingold of University College, Leicester was the first researcher to study this group of fungi when he looked at species growing on alder leaves in a stream doi.org/10.1016/S000...
I collected another sample from this waterfall today. I've now got monthly collections from April to September and I intend to keep collecting through the winter. Just need to find time to look at how the species composition changes through the year.
September 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I collected another sample from this waterfall today. I've now got monthly collections from April to September and I intend to keep collecting through the winter. Just need to find time to look at how the species composition changes through the year.
A new Zoom-based chat group focussing on #AquaticHyphomycetes will be starting on 8th October. Join us in the evening (BST) to chat and learn about this fascinating group of fungi. Contact me at aquatichyphomycetes@gmail.com if interested. @britmycolsoc.org.uk @funaction.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 7:52 AM
A new Zoom-based chat group focussing on #AquaticHyphomycetes will be starting on 8th October. Join us in the evening (BST) to chat and learn about this fascinating group of fungi. Contact me at aquatichyphomycetes@gmail.com if interested. @britmycolsoc.org.uk @funaction.bsky.social
Collecting #AquaticHyphomycete spores is easy. They get caught up in large numbers in river foam. Foam can be scooped up into a jar. @funaction.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk @panspecieslisting.bsky.social @msafungi.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Collecting #AquaticHyphomycete spores is easy. They get caught up in large numbers in river foam. Foam can be scooped up into a jar. @funaction.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk @panspecieslisting.bsky.social @msafungi.bsky.social
Aquatic hyphomycetes are a fascinating group of aquatic fungi. Most of them feed on dead leaves in flowing water. Their spores are usually either sinuous or four-armed to enable them to catch on to new food sources. @britmycolsoc.org.uk @funaction.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Aquatic hyphomycetes are a fascinating group of aquatic fungi. Most of them feed on dead leaves in flowing water. Their spores are usually either sinuous or four-armed to enable them to catch on to new food sources. @britmycolsoc.org.uk @funaction.bsky.social
Cuphea caeciliae buzzing with bees at RHS Garden Rosemoor today despite overcast sky. No other plant, not even Salvia, was attracting a good number or range of bees in the same bed.
July 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Cuphea caeciliae buzzing with bees at RHS Garden Rosemoor today despite overcast sky. No other plant, not even Salvia, was attracting a good number or range of bees in the same bed.
Looking great this week at RHS Rosemoor: (descriptions in alt text)
May 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Looking great this week at RHS Rosemoor: (descriptions in alt text)
Similar damaged cells beneath irregular black marks. Discolouration looks greater beneath cortex. Is that because of the chemicals degrading there in a different way or a sign that the damage is greatest internally?
April 5, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Similar damaged cells beneath irregular black marks. Discolouration looks greater beneath cortex. Is that because of the chemicals degrading there in a different way or a sign that the damage is greatest internally?
Definitely. Some people simply 'get their eye in'. I refound Burgoa moriformis last week. I made the 1st Welsh record last year. Found 300m down the same country road. It can't be rare; just rarely noticed and very rarely identified.
January 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Definitely. Some people simply 'get their eye in'. I refound Burgoa moriformis last week. I made the 1st Welsh record last year. Found 300m down the same country road. It can't be rare; just rarely noticed and very rarely identified.
Does this help? The leaves aren't evenly dying and turning black. This suggests a fungal (or, maybe, bacterial) infection within those black spots/areas.
December 23, 2024 at 5:26 PM
Does this help? The leaves aren't evenly dying and turning black. This suggests a fungal (or, maybe, bacterial) infection within those black spots/areas.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the BLS are now unable to print out photos for their photo competition for display at the BLS AGM. Instead, they aim to share an online folder with all entrants, AGM attendees, and BLS members to showcase the photos and to facilitate online voting.
December 22, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the BLS are now unable to print out photos for their photo competition for display at the BLS AGM. Instead, they aim to share an online folder with all entrants, AGM attendees, and BLS members to showcase the photos and to facilitate online voting.
I'd agree with T. splendens. I see this frequently, sometimes in large numbers. I've never knowingly seen T. angulatum. I doubt if your last spore is A. crassa. This tends to be sinuous rather than regularly curved. They're broader (15-20 um) and more bluntly tipped with clear septa.
December 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM
I'd agree with T. splendens. I see this frequently, sometimes in large numbers. I've never knowingly seen T. angulatum. I doubt if your last spore is A. crassa. This tends to be sinuous rather than regularly curved. They're broader (15-20 um) and more bluntly tipped with clear septa.
Have just been looking at a foam sample from a small stream in Parc Natur Penglais in Aberystwyth, Wales. I've never seen such abundant Aguillospora crassa in a foam sample. Alatospora accuminata and Tetracladium marchalianum also abundant.
November 28, 2024 at 9:40 PM
Have just been looking at a foam sample from a small stream in Parc Natur Penglais in Aberystwyth, Wales. I've never seen such abundant Aguillospora crassa in a foam sample. Alatospora accuminata and Tetracladium marchalianum also abundant.
Ordered. Due next month. Hope that means next week and not after Christmas! Maybe I'll get help with this: Infecting only lichens but multiple species including Xanthoria parietina. Spores 1-septate, Acremonium-like, but conidiogenesis cells short.
November 28, 2024 at 1:25 PM
Ordered. Due next month. Hope that means next week and not after Christmas! Maybe I'll get help with this: Infecting only lichens but multiple species including Xanthoria parietina. Spores 1-septate, Acremonium-like, but conidiogenesis cells short.
Bookings are coming in thick and fast for the British Lichen Society AGM weekend. Will you be there? britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
November 25, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Bookings are coming in thick and fast for the British Lichen Society AGM weekend. Will you be there? britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
Enter the British Lichen Society's photo competition! The categories this year are: 'Close encounters' and 'Lichenscapes'. Two free entries per person. Full details: britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
November 23, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Enter the British Lichen Society's photo competition! The categories this year are: 'Close encounters' and 'Lichenscapes'. Two free entries per person. Full details: britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/...
Join the British Lichen Society for their AGM weekend at the Natural History Museum, London on the 10-12th January 2025. Full programme at britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/... All lectures, talks etc free to all, but must be booked before 14th December.
November 23, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Join the British Lichen Society for their AGM weekend at the Natural History Museum, London on the 10-12th January 2025. Full programme at britishlichensociety.org.uk/the-society/... All lectures, talks etc free to all, but must be booked before 14th December.
Inspired by Isobel Clark's talk at the BLS Lichen Chat & Improvement Group this week, I searched in vain for Usnea today. Found Ramalina fraxinea new to the garden instead with Tremella ramalinae as an added bonus.
November 22, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Inspired by Isobel Clark's talk at the BLS Lichen Chat & Improvement Group this week, I searched in vain for Usnea today. Found Ramalina fraxinea new to the garden instead with Tremella ramalinae as an added bonus.