Encyclopedian Dictionary

Chart of Leaf Tips

Chart of Leaf Tips

Chart of Leaf Tips Reference: Firefly Encyclopedia of Trees, Edited by Steve Cafferty M.Sc. ©2005
Acuminate	Acute	Apiculate	Aristate
Cuspidate	Emarginate	Mucronate	Obcordate
Obtuse	Retuse	Truncate

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Margins

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Arrangement and Attachments

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Shapes

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Venation

Zoology Quest: Chart of Leaf Kinds

Common Bird's Nest Fungi, Crucibulum laeve, (syn. Crucibulum vulgare)

Bird's Nest Fungi are cuplike receptacles, measuring .1-.5 inches in diameter which contain peridioles that resemble eggs in a basket. The "eggs" are attached by a thread to the cup. Inside the peridiole spores lay dormant and are released when the covering splits open. Bird's nest fungi grow on twigs, decaying wood, straw or sawdust.

After searching for a solution to this curious problem, "Common Bird's Nest," Crucibulum vulgare is a synonym for Crucibulum laeve according to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and according to my preferred federal taxonomy database, itis.gov, Crucibulum as a genus, is listed under the Animal Kingdom (see this link). On the USDA database, Crucibulum is yet listed as a classification of fungi.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
The common bird’s nest cup is 0.1-.3 inches in height with a rounded top. As the cup matures a hairy brown membrane breaks and exposes a white membrane beneath. This also ruptures and disappears revealing spore-filled eggs.
Kingdom	Fungi
Phylum	Basidiomycota
Class	Agaricomycetes
Order	Agaricales
Family	Agaricaceae
Genus	Crucibulum
Species	Crucibulum laeve
Crucibulum laeve (Huds.), Kambly, 1936 Common Bird's Nest

References and Further Reading

Bird's Nest Fungi, Crucibulum laeve

Many sacked puffball ( Pisolithus tinctorius )

Many sacked puffball

This species grows to about 3 inches in height and grows in exposed soil. It has a yellow interior that is divided into several sacs which contain basidia and spores. An inky liquid exudes from fresh mushrooms. It makes a poor supply for food.

A search on the USDA database for Pisolithus tinctorius yielded the closest classification on itis.gov being the order Boletales, Taxonomic Serial No.: 623889.

Pisolithus tinctorius
: : : : : : : : : : Taxonomic Classification of Organisms
: : : : : : : : : Fungi, Yeasts, Molds and Mildews
: : : : : : : : Dikarya
: : : : : : : Basidiomycota
: : : : : : Agaricomycotina
: : : : : Agaricomycetes
: : : : Agaricomycetidae
: : : Boletales
: : Pisolithaceae
: Pisolithus
Pisolithus tinctorius

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Fungi – Fungo, fungi
Division	Basidiomycota – basidiomycetes, club fungi
Class	Basidiomycetes
Order	Boletales
Boletales, Taxonomic Serial No.: 623889

References and Further Reading

Stalked puffballs ( Tulostoma mammosum )

Tulostoma mammosum

When growing in loose soil or sand this species shows only its globular head. On hard surfaces the cap and stalk stick above, a growth of about a half inch to 1.5 inches when mature. When young, it is edible but becomes bitter to taste when it has reached maturity.

Tulostoma mammosum was narrowed down from the listing on USDA, with the closest taxonomic identification listing being, the order Agaricales.

: : : : : : : : Fungi, Yeasts, Molds and Mildews
: : : : : : : Dikarya
: : : : : : Basidiomycota
: : : : : Agaricomycotina
: : : : Agaricomycetes
: : : Agaricomycetidae
: : Agaricales
: Tulostomataceae
Tulostoma

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Fungi – fungi
Division	Basidiomycota – basidio's, basidiomycetes, club fungi
Class	Basidiomycetes
Order	Agaricales
Agaricales, Taxonomic Serial No.: 194402

References and Further Reading

Crowned earthstar ( Geaster or Geastrum Coronatus )

Crowned earthstar

Grows about 1 to 2 inches at maturity and splits into between four and eight strongly curved petals which often raise the whole body above the ground. A ridge outlines the central mouth region of the inner-ball. They grow singularly or in small groups. Found in wooded areas.

According to encyclopedia of life this species falls under family Geastraceae, which is presently a valid listing in the itis.gov database.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Crowned Earthstar, Geastrum coronatum or Geaster coronatum
Kingdom	Fungi – champignons, Fungo, fungi
Division	Basidiomycota – basidio's, basidiomycetes, club fungi
Class	Basidiomycetes
Order	Lycoperdales
Family	Geastraceae
Geastraceae, Taxonomic Serial No.: 623892

References and Further Reading

Zoology Quest: Basidiomycetes

Zoology Quest: Earthstars

Geastrum coronatum

Geastrum coronatum Pers., 1801 (Crowned Earthstar)

Earthstars, Geastrum coronatum, Nature Photographers

Botrydium granulatum

Botrydium granulatum

About the size of a pinhead and found in mud or other moist soil.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom	Chromista
Subkingdom	Chromista
Division	Xanthophyta – yellow-green algae
Class	Xanthophyceae
Order	Vaucheriales
Family	Botrydiaceae
Genus	Botrydium Wallroth, 1815
Species	Botrydium granulatum
Botrydium granulatum, Taxonomic Serial No.: 2118

References and Further Reading

Yellow-Green Algae

Yellow Green Algae

This group has yellow pigment and stores food reserves as oils vs. starch. A majority live in fresh water, some on soil. Vaucheria a tubular alga. is commonly aquatic. Some species form a feltlike mat in wet soil. Tribonema is a filamentous alga found in ponds and ditches with cell walls of overlapping H-shaped pieces which are difficult to see. Botrydium grows on mud or on moist soil and is about the size of a pinhead.

botrydium granulatum

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Chromista
Subkingdom	Chromista
Division	Xanthophyta – yellow-green algae
Direct Children:
Class	Xanthophyceae
Xanthophyta, Taxonomic Serial No.: 1882