Hymenopellis furfuracea and DIC notes

lkudzma · Post by **lkudzma** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:40 am

Dieter,
Yes, the Genus Hymenopellis is described in exactly the reference you linked. This was all new to me and it was the Mushroomobserver.com site which alerted me to this by changing Xerula to Hymenopellis. Not studying this field for many years I find it changed and in flux.
As for Inocybe/Entoloma, I'm interested but no expert. As I find examples I try to identify them and many remain without a firm name. I have herbarium samples retained in case I've found something particularly interesting or unique. Notice how many Inocybe (including mine) have no suggested names from the many expert members of mushroomobserver.

I'm assuming you are studying fungi professionally rather than a serious avocation like mine.

Linas

lkudzma · Post by **lkudzma** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:06 am

Arturo,
I do not own a Leitz objective in the 20-25X range. I can tell you that at this magnification, with the first generation Prism I, my best DIC performer is a Nikon Plan Apo 20X/0.75 (great lens!). The Zeiss Plan 16x/0.35 and Neofluar 16X/0.40 work as well, but to my eye the images are not as pleasing as with the Nikon.

Linas

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:36 am

Many thanks for your answer Linas...i hope to find a planapo 63x as soon as
Best
Arturo

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:46 am

lkudzma wrote:Dieter,
I'm assuming you are studying fungi professionally rather than a serious avocation like mine.

Linas

Not yet, but I'm planning to. The sooner, the better!
I'm more decicated to Hymenogaster for the moment.

Most of the time you don't get names of rather difficult groups by putting it on a forum. You should find a local mycology club and join them and hope there are some 'specialists' around there. But anyway, I always like to see some DIC results.

lkudzma · Post by **lkudzma** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:36 am

Dieter,
Very interesting that you are working on Hymenogaster, which certainly needs microscopy (and now DNA typing) to know what you have. I don't know much about this or other hypogenous fungi. Best of luck and I'm sure we will talk more about this if/when I find some truffle-like fungi.

I'll take some more mycology related photomicrographs worthy of posting here to give all the amazing protozoa some competition!

Linas

phytoplankton · Post by **phytoplankton** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:12 pm

lkudzma wrote:Thanks phytoplankton!

All required components and Zeiss objectives designed for the three different versions of Zeiss DIC for 160 tube length are summarized here if you haven't seen it.

http://www.the-ultraphot-shop.org.uk/faq.htm

I have my Zeiss Universal stand equipped with the first version of Zeiss DIC and I can confirm that a Zeiss Plan 40x and Plan 100X with the correct serial numbers (as in the above link) work, while a similar Plan 40X of the wrong vintage does not. I also have a 40X Zeiss Neofluar that gives great DIC, but my 100X Zeiss Neofluar does not. If you'd like, I can list my serial numbers for you later. The first version DIC condensers are the ones with an arrow on them and have three DIC prisms (I, II, III) in the turret.

Funny thing is that I prefer the DIC image from the Leitz lenses I mention in the first post. They work very well despite not being the strain free "P" versions. They are great optics whether using DIC or not.

Linas

Hi Linas, thanks for the info. I think I'm going to piece together my hybrid DIC from newer and more available Nikon or Olympus parts. I want to use my Leitz condenser and I wouldn't feel right taking apart a Zeiss DIC setup just to get the prisms. So I'll leave the classic Zeiss parts to Zeiss users that need them. I just wanted any info I could gather so I can try to pick prisms with the right amount of shear. I'm trying to match my 63/1.4, as well as a PL Fluotar 25/0.75 W Fluoreszenz, 50/1.0 W Fluoreszenz, etc. As you say, most of my Leitz lenses work well with polarization despite not being the strain free type.

I'd be interested in seeing more fungi subjects too. Such fascinating subjects.

lkudzma · Post by **lkudzma** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:24 am

Hi phytoplankton,

I'm glad you're not planning on taking apart

Zeiss components. What I've done is find other objectives which are as suitable (or better) than the matching Zeiss ones. I remember when I was first getting involved with microscopy in my late teens and early 20's. A Zeiss Universal stand and Neofluar and/or Leitz Fluotar objectives and DIC were an unattainable dream. Now 35+ years later I'm mixing and matching components, which are available at a fraction of original cost. Now the hardest part is having the patience to gather all that is needed piece by piece.

Linas