Clathrus ruber Mich. Ex Pers., the Lattice Stinkhorn, in IrelandAuthor(s): M. J. P. ScannellSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 18, No. 2 (Apr., 1974), pp. 53-54Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25537733 .

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53

College, Wexford) presented a comprehensive study of the pigmy shrew in his area, and shared second place with Micheal O Briain (Colaiste Mhuire, Dublin) who submitted his observations on the birds of Bull Island, Co. Dublin. Evelyn Tarrant (St. Joseph's Secondary School, Castleisland, Co. Kerry) came third with her study on a

rocky shore. She also won the special presentation award for the best display in the

biology section. In the senior biology section Joan O'Brien (Convent of Mercy, Kells, Co.

Meath) took first prize with a project on the occurrence of potato cyst eelworms in her area of Co. Meath. Dorothy Conroy (Regional College, Carlow) presented a statistical survey of the track performances of ten successful greyhound sires and their progeny in an attempt to predict how the quality of speed may be inherited. Cornelius O'Mahony (Vocational School, Bandon, Co. Cork) came third with an interesting project on the affects of different coloured artificial lighting on plant growth.

This was the tenth Exhibition and in the current Aer Lingus brochure the careers of previous Young Scientists of the Year made interesting reading. This years three main awards demonstrated very clearly how the strands of the various scientific

disciplines are woven into the broader band of scientific unity. Evolution has also taken place within the competition. New sections have been added due to ^obvious preference shown by the entrants themselves in their approach to projects.

The competition, at first confined to the Republic of Ireland, has been extended to include Northern Ireland, with [pleasing results. A new prize for the presentation of

projects has been added in each section. There has been a significant change in the approach of entrants. Instead of lists of accumulated facts, an analytic approach to

experimental and ecological problems has evolved. This is due, in no small way, to tho continued generous and enlightened sponsorship by Aer Lingus-Irish over the years, and to its officials who have guided the Annual Exhibition.

22, Courtney House, Appian Way, Dublin 6.

CLATHRUS RUBER MICH. EX PERS., THE LATTICE STINKHORN, IN IRELAND

M. J. P. Scannell

The Lattice Stinkhorn, a gasteromycete fungus of a striking coral colour, arises

like others of the same group* from a gelatinous "egg" which later expands to a hollow

globular sphere of a trellis formation, lined with an olive-brown foetid, spore-bearing mucus. The fungus is pictured in colour dn Ramsbottom, Mushrooms and Toadstools

(1953), plate 37b. In Ireland there is only one published record for this fungus. Adams and

Pethybridge, A Census Catalogue of Irish Fungi, (Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy, 28: 1910) not? briefly,

"Glathrus cancetlatus Tournef. M X "

M. denotes Munstex and the symbol X is used to indicate that the exact locality of the occurrence was not known to the authors.

In August 1971, Miss Joan Wilkinson forwarded for determination to the

Botanic Gardens specimens of Clathrus ruber. The material had been collected in the

garden to the rere of 12 Howth Road, Clontarf, a suburb within Dublin city. The

fungus reappeared in 1972 and again in 1973. In August 1973 the site was visited

and several "eggs" were seen. The mycelial strands were traced to the roots of a

standing tree, now dead and devoid of foliage. This was later determined, from the

structure of its wood, as Cupressus sp. The fungus was not found in association with

the other arbuscular growth of the garden, which included Ivy, Bay Laurel, EldeT, Escallonia and Symphoricarpus. This is the first localised record for Clathrus ruber in

Ireland. Mr E. N, Carruthers, Belfast, has kindly confirmed that there are no collections

of the species in recent years in the North-East or elsewhere in Ulster.

Clathrus ruber is considered a species of Southern Europe. In Britain it

occurs mainly in the south-east with isolated records elsewhere. In France it is found

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54

but sparingly on the west coast, the centre of distribution being in the south. Ramsbottom considers it probable that the species occurs naturally in Britain. Dennis, on the other hand, having reviewed all the relevant facts (Kew Bulletin, 1955), concluded that ,the plant is an introduction having been naturalised in the 19th century and being associated mostly with cultivated plants.

In Ireland the habitat and locality, garden at Clontarf, and the host plant, Cupressus sp., indicate that Clathrus ruber lis probably not native in this country.

Herbarium, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTES

PEARL IN FRESH WATER MUSSEL {MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA)

On the 9th October 1972, Mr W. D. Culbert, then of Armagh and Chairman of the

Armagh Angling Club, was walking along the bank of the River Blackwater, in the townland of Annaclarey, Co. Armagh. At a point where the river turns sharply from the west to the north as it flows to Lough Neagh he was examining the scarring caused by drainage work, and on a ledge or platform at the Armagh bank, left dry after a new channel 'had been

dredged to the Tyrone side of the river, at a spot caUed Rocks Pool beside Rocks Ford

(Grid Reference H 837514) he found three half shells of the Fresh Water Mussel {Margaritifera margaritifera) one of which (Museum No. 26-73) contained a pearl of some 4 mm diameter at one end of the valve. Considering this unusual he brought it to the Armagh County

Museum from where it was referred to Mr D. S. Erwin of the ^Natural Sciences Department of the Ulster Museum who kindly examined it and confirmed Mr Culbert's belief that this was a rare find and indeed not only the first time a pearl has been recorded froml the

Blackwater, but the first record of the species Margaritifera margaritifera being found! in this river. Pearls of course, were well known in the County Tyrone rivers near Omagh (see Went, A. E. J., "Notes on Irish Pearls*'; I.N.J., 9: 42-44) and a mussel features on the town arms of Banbridge because of their former prevalence in the Bann (see Dubourdieu, J. "Statistical Survy of the County of Down"; Dublin 1802, pp. 314-315).

D. R. M. WEATHERUP.

Armagh County Museum.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE OYSTER FROM LOUGH SWILLY, CO. DONEGAL

An exceptionally large oyster (Ostrea edulis, L) was observed just above LWST

mark on an unexploited oyster-bed on the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal, on

24th November, 1972. The external dimensions of the oyster were as follows:

antero-posterior diameter 202 mm; dorsi -ventral diameter 165 mm; depth 63 mm. The total

live weight was 1521 gm. No internal measurements were made.

This oyster was exceptionally large by Irish standards, although larger specimens have been reported in Ireland (Went,, pers. comm?). In England individual oysters weighing over 3,000 gm have been landed from deep water in the North Sea (Hugman, pers. comm.).

Generally it is not possible to age oysters directly by any of their physical features

and it was, therefore, impossible to age this specimen accurately. However, a speculative estimate of its age can be made on the basis of estimates of longevity reported by other

experienced workers. Orton and Amirthalingham (Giant English Oysters. Nature Lond., 126:

309) from their knowledge of oyster growth rates, estimated that large oysters (e.g. 1% mm X

136 mm X 59 mm; 1265 gm) taken from deep water in the English Channel were in excess of

12 years of age. Key (pers. comm.% on the basis of more recent observations on the growth of English oysters, estimated that oysters of similar dimensions were 25 to 30 years old. The

growth rates of oysters on the west coast of Ireland tend to be slower than those of their

British counter-parts (at least on the more usual shallow water oysterbeds) and, for

example, by the time Galway Bay oysters reach an antero-posterior diameter of 100 mm and

a weight of approximately 100 gm (good commercial size) growth is almost imperceptible.

West coast oysters generally take about seven years to attain such a size (Whilde A. The

Clarinbridge Public Oyster Fishery?a description and management plan. Resource

Record Paper No. 26, B.I.M., Dublin, 1973).

Therefore, it is clear that the Lough Swilly oyster was well in excess of 12 years of

age and, in view of the fact that it was probably slower growing than the specimens noted by

Key, it is likely that it was well over 30 years of age at the time of observation.

Ross, Rosscahill, Co. Galway. A. WHILDE.

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