Dale Abbey November 2011

Dale Abbey November 2011

Dale Abbey is a village situated 6 miles east of Derby.  It has what is probably one of the smallest churches in the country (All Saints) measuring just 25 feet by 26 feet and shares a roof with an adjoining farmhouse. Behind the church is ancient woodland containing mixed trees and also a cave known locally as Hermit Cave.  This was carved out of sandstone by a local baker in the 12th century who wished to live life as a recluse.  This measures just 6 yards by 3 yards.

Set off one Saturday November morning with a friend plus her two dogs. The sun shone though it was bitterly cold.  No fungi other than Jew's Ear to be seen in the ancient wood which was surprising.  Thankfully, we had brought along flasks with soup and so decided to sit on a bench in the little grass area surrounding the tiny church.  I wandered off to inspect the grass and found two Hygrocybe ceracea (I think), lovely bright yellow and cheerful looking.  The cap being not quite so conical as other Hygrocybe.

Also during November I visited Nottingham University Campus and found a small cluster of  Rickenella fibula (orange mosscap).  These were in thick mossy grass in a damp area near fir trees.  Again, cheerful bright orange colour, deeper in the middle of the cap and tiny being no bigger than 0.5-1 cm diam.

These fungi can be viewed on Browse 4.

Coprinus Lagopides and Clathrus archeri

November 2011

On a winter walk around the Nottingham University Campus, I nearly missed what I think is the very delicate Coprinus Lagopides.  A small group of three were nearly hidden in tall grass.  Lagopides is very similar to Lagopus. Definite identification though is mainly distinguished by the spores. I did not carry out such a test.  They were so delicate and fragile that I feared that if I got too close they would collapse.  The cap being virtually transparent.

Clathrus archeri

Received an email and photograph of Clathrus archeri.  Thrilled about this as it is rare in the UK.

Mainly in Southern Europe but slowly spreading to some southern counties in England.  This one found in

Hampshire.  It resembles a pink or red star fish with between 4-8 arms.  Erupts from a whitish egg and the spore mass is dark olive green and is foul smelling just like Stink horn. 

Both can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Crucibulum - Bird's Nest Fungi

Bird's Nest Fungi  - October 2011

Received two photographs of Common Bird's Nest - Crucibulum laeve taken in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Full description and acknowledgement given on fungiworld.

What is Bird's Nest Fungi?

A fungi in which the spores develop in small egg-like baskets better known as (peridioles).

There are several types: namely

Common Bird's Nest  Crucibulum laeve, which can be viewed on Browse 4 of fungiworld.

Fluted Bird's Nest  Cyathus striatus

Field Bird's Nest  Cyanthus olla

and

Nidularia deformis

A return to Scotland - October 2011

A return to Scotland - October 2011

Returned to Scotland for the second time in eight weeks.  Should have been bird-watching in Majorca with Chris but due to previous mentioned sadness (see August blog) this could no longer be the case.  I couldn't bare to stay at home so my kind friends invited me to stay with them.  Still numb from events I set off once again.

A marathon railway journey (nine hours) due to Saturday engineering works.  When I got to York the train took a massive detour to Carlisle instead of the east coast route up to Edinburgh.  This little tour took 1.5 hours but the bonus was new territory for me and stunning views.  Once in Edinburgh the train stopped for a further 30 minutes before setting off again for Aberdeen, allowing us to stretch our legs and smokers were directed to 'smokers corner'!.  Different anyway.

On the outskirts of the golf course at Letham Grange I stumbled across Lyophyllum connatum.  Very petite and a very swollen base of stem.  Pure white, cap, stem and gills, and in groups amongst leaf litter.   

Again on the edge of the golf course in deep lush grass I found what might be Clavulinopsis 
luteoalba.  Not 100% percent certain, but it did have pale white tips with an egg yellow body.  They were scattered around in little groups.

These can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Magic Mushrooms and Psilocybin Research News February 2012

What is Psilocybin?

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in some mushrooms known as psilocybin mushrooms.  The most common known is the Magic Mushroom, (Liberty Cap) (Psilocybe semilanceata). 

Possession of this mushroom in all forms has been illegal since 1985.  This mushroom is classed as poisonous, due to its hallucinogenic properties and the symptoms can be enduring and persistent.  Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly metabolized to psilocin which then acts on serotonin receptors in the brain.  Magic Mushrooms are the most commonly known of this group but others containing Psilocybin include Psilocybe crobula and Psilocybe azurescens amongst others.

An interesting article has appeared in The Guardian (see below) which explains more about the effects of psilocybin on the brain and funding that has been secured to research further if Psilocybe can help with the condition of depression.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/06/magic-mushrooms-law-war-drugs?cat=science&type=article

Stoney Wood , Derbyshire, September 2011

Stoney Wood, Near Wirksworth, Derbyshire September 2011

My web designer for Fungiworld and friend Craig, offered to take me out for the day.

Without Chris, I am a little restricted for reasons of personal safety, and don't feel inclined to fungi hunt in remote woods or areas, so was eager to have a day out.  Besides which it would raise my spirits.  A pleasant, sunny day, so off we set.

Stoney Wood being very small on the outskirts of Wirksworth, Derbyshire.  Located on the edge of  abandoned quarries previously mined for Derbyshire Stone.  The first fungus I spotted in tall grass and moss I think is Hygrocybe Virginea (Snowy Wax Cap).  Pure white, waxy texture, with a slight twist in the stem.  Growing in small groups. 

We started to follow a gravel path and before long realised were were on the edge of a huge dis-used quarry.  Climbed over a big gate to see if there were any fungi on the edge of this huge area.  Walked about 100 meters and found an unexpected sight.    A deep quarry filled with vivid bright blue water, yet the sky was not vivid blue!  It would have not looked out of place in the tropics.  A white car in the distance, started to make its way towards us.  A lady got out and told us we should not be on the quarry land.  Her job was to make sure people did not go down to the quarry and be tempted to dive in or swim.  We explained that we would not go near and were just looking for mushrooms.  A lady doing a very good job.  She never took her eyes off us.  Also she explained that no matter what the weather, or the season, and even on dull Winter days the water was always vivid blue.  An American rock band had apparently filmed a video there.  We took lovely photographs and left.

Made our way back to Stoney Wood for a picnic.  I searched in more grass and found two Clavaria (White Spindles).   Two lovely little fungi - white,  the larger one being about 6 cm tall with a club-like tip and the smaller one being only 2 cm tall and narrow and slender.  My first white Clavaria having previously seen yellow.

A good day out, my spirits lifted slightly and I won't forget that Blue Lagoon in a hurry.

These fungi can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Laccaria amethystea and Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)

Arbroath, Scotland, August 2011

Still in Scotland with my friends and extremely grateful for their company and fabulous hospitality.  I felt safe. Also indebted to them for allowing me to shed tears whenever, and wherever I needed to. And for accepting my zombie like state and aimless wanderings.  

Whilst out 'wandering' around the edge of the golf course amongst broad leaf and conifer trees,  I came across a small group of Laccaria amethystea.  The depth of the deep purple colour was impressive. Especially as cap, gills and stem are all such a deep colour.  My photography that day was definitely not at its best and the photo is not as clear as I would have liked - the lighting was bad and the location was difficult and I got stung quite badly by nettles.

September 2011 

Calvatia gigantea - Giant Puffball.  A first for me.  Was tramping around the Nottingham University campus early one morning when I came across two Giant Puffballs.  One young and one mature growing near to each other.  Unfortunately for me, they were surrounded by huge nettles, but I managed to photograph both.  The mature one being larger than a football but still not as big as it could be.  I couldn't resist trying to pick it up to test the weight.  Of course it was lighter than expected and the texture being cork like.  Did not lift it much as didn't wish to damage it.  I could not help wondering just how many people a Giant Puffball would feed!

These pictures can now be viewed on Browse 4.