Hen of the Woods

Hen of the Woods, Grifola frondosa - October 2012

During the month of October I saw my first ever Hen of the Woods. It was growing directly at the base of a broad-leaved tree about 40 cm diameter.   From a distance it is easy to confuse it with Meripilus giganteus (Giant Polypore).  The difference being in the size and texture though.

Giant Polypore is more light ochre tinged and the fungus caps are more fan-shaped and coarse.  Also the fungal caps are much more cork like in texture and much thicker up to 
1 cm.  It is also more likely to being growing some distance from the base of the tree trunk and following the line of the tree roots.

On the other hand,  with Hen of the Woods, the fungal caps are more tongue-shaped,  and the texture is much more smooth.  Also the colour is more grey-brown and the caps grow from one single stem.


Meadow Wax Cap,  Hygrocybe prantensis

For the first time ever during October 2012,  I joined a guided fungus foray led by a local expert. This was a different experience for me as I usually go out and about either by myself, or with various patient and long suffering friends.  These friends know I am best left alone when the camera comes out!

Anyway, different it was.  The man leading the Group (Lee S) had lots of knowledge to pass on.  Approximately 20 people turned up all keen to learn about fungi and most carrying a camera.  He had set up a huge table in the car park with samples of fungi he'd picked up either earlier that morning or during the previous days.  An elementary outdoor lecture then took place contrasting fungi with gills and pores, stems with rings or no rings, bracket etc.

Then we all set off en mass armed with a tray to collect samples.  This was the bit I found difficult, even though harmless,  as I avoid picking fungi (unless for essential id), preferring them to remain in their natural habitat.   And I felt quite pained! when at the end of the Foray, each person  (except me)  had about 6 fungi in their trays ie 120 samples! all piled up when placed on the table.

Although I enjoyed the Foray, it reinforced my natural inclination to go it alone or with one companion.
I did manage to photograph a Meadow Wax cap which was kindly identified by Lee.
As characteristic with Hygrocybe the beautiful decurrent gills made a lovely photograph.  This though had been picked by someone in the group so my photograph shows it on its side.

These photographs can now been seen on Browse 4.

Chalara fraxinea - Ash Tree Fungus

 Chalara fraxinea

A few words about C. fraxinea.  Chalara fraxinea is a fungus that kills Ash trees by destroying their leaves.  The term most commonly used is Ash dieback.  Sapling trees are most vulnerable and older trees tend to survive a few more years. 

Signs to look for            

Loss of leaf at the crown

Wilting leaves with black/brown discoloration

Whole trees with withered tops

Die back of shoots and twigs

                                  
 Spores of Chalara fraxinea blow around in the air and can spread up to 20 miles a year.  Experts currently remain mildly optimistic that this fungus might still be contained before it starts to produce spores in the Spring.

If you do suspect the disease, and saplings will be the most vulnerable, please contact one of the following Agencies.

Forest Research Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service 01420 23000

or

Forestry Commission Plant Health Service 0131 314 6414

Amanita strobiliformis

Amanita strobiliformis (August 2012)

Visited one of my regular haunts, Nottingham University Campus.  Usually I'm out searching for fungi very early in the mornings but on that Sunday afternoon, it was more of stroll around so I could show a friend some of the nice cultivated gardens.

En route to the first garden in a grass verge near to mixed trees, stood a quite large, but immature white fungus.  Next to it was another lying on the ground,  passed its best,  but good enough to get a photograph of the gills.  The immature one was in perfect condition.  I knew it was an Amanita but being immature did not have all its characteristics.  Puzzled I took a good photograph and studied my books.  At a loss, decided to consult an opinion from a contact in the Notts Fungi Group.  Luckily, he had seen the same fungi 2 days later than myself, had analysed the spore prints and was told it was Amanita Strobiliformis.  Both parties happy, his photo had not turned out too well so I could provide my image to the Notts Fungi Group and he had managed to get a good analysis!

It would have been good to see this fungi at its maturity as it is large, white with scales that over-hang the margin.  The stem is white and shaggy with remains of a volval bag, also having a large ring. The immature one I saw was certainly striking.  Usually solitary late Summer to Autumn and according to the books is rare so I'm glad to have seen it.

This image can now be seen on Browse 4.

Scutellinia scutellata

Chester and Scutellinia scutellata - June 2012

Visited a friend in Chester for 3 days.  A new city to visit which is always exciting.
Travelled by train as usual and once beyond Crewe, the scenery became more
rural and the Welsh mountains could be seen in the distance.  

I was most impressed with the 'feel' of Chester.  A city that felt more like a large town,
lovely wide grass verges on the outskirts and so fresh smelling i.e no petrol fumes.
Very near to Chester Racecourse is a small wood called The Dingle.  OS Grid SJ4065.  This small area of wood lies on the southern side of the River Dee.  Was attacked by lots of
mosquitoes but on a dead log I discovered a group of Scutellinia scutellata.
No more than 0.5 cm diameter, disc-shaped, smooth and scarlet.  Took me a while to realise what is was because the dark brown hairs are not easily visible unless at eye level.  Even then a hand lense would be useful.  I can now see why this is called Eye Lash Fungus.  
These pictures can now be seen on Browse 4.  For the first time ever, on fungiworld,  I have enhanced one of the photographs by darkening,  so that the 'hairs' can be clearly seen.

Thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Chester Zoo kindly arranged by my friend - getting a birds eye view from the monorail.  Felt quite pleased as we managed to sit in the exact carriage that the Queen had sat in just recently to celebrate her 60 years on the throne!

Also now to be seen on Browse 4 is Phaeomarasmius erinaceus which I mentioned in a previous blog.

Deceiving Bolete May 2012

Deceiving Bolete May 2012

A pleasant Sunday and a good day to walk to my local garden centre via St. John's Theological College and across the fields - round trip about 3 miles.  I'd persuaded a friend to join me on the promise that she would taste the best and biggest piece of  Lemon Meringue Pie in the district.  No fungi to be seen en route and disappointingly 'The Pie' was off the menu.  Carrot Cake had to suffice.  We set off on the return walk and just outside the Theological College hiding behind an oak tree was the biggest, and most vivid coloured bolete I'd ever seen.  The cap being well  in excess of 15 cm diam and brick red with hues of orange. My camera did not pick up the brick red colour in the photographs. The stem also being the broadest I'd ever seen - 80 cm across and bulbous containing hues of coral, yellow, pink and brick red.  When touched the cap stained blue and had blue bruising evidence.  It has taken much research for me to believe it might be a Deceiving Bolete - Boletus queletii, particularly as the margin edge over-hung by a mm  or so.  It was a magnificent fungi to look at and photograph.  A great end and more than made up for the lack of Lemon Meringue Pie.

Yellow Stainer

Can't be certain about Agaricus xanthodermus but this young fungus had all the characteristics ie.

chrome yellow staining on the cap and also at the base of the stem.  Also the cap had very small

brown/grey scales. A small group growing in grass near assorted trees.  According to

Roger Phillips Mushrooms this is vulnerable needing to be protected and is on the Red Data List.

It would be nice if that was indeed what I saw.

All the above can be viewed on Browse 4.

Berwick-upon-Tweed May 2012

Berwick-upon-Tweed, May 2012

Berwick-upon-Tweed is the most northern town in England and lies 2.5 miles south of the English Border.

I had passed through Berwick-upon-Tweed on the train, many times, over the past 20 years, when on my way to Arbroath in Scotland.   Promised myself that I would visit 'one day'.  So, at long last, I had got around to arranging a four day stay.

I had struck very lucky with the accommodation (Northumbrian House).  The care and hospitality given by Ian the proprietor was first class.  Hidden amongst the towels in my room on arrival was a small bar of chocolate, and every day the biscuit tin on the mantle piece was stocked with fresh delicious cookies.  Wonderful and welcoming after I'd spent hours tramping around Berwick.  The breakfast was fit for a king!

Just the job for active people like myself.  The porridge was served with an optional extra of a dram of whiskey! which I welcomed on my final day.

The weather was kind to me, a reprieve from all the rain the previous weeks.  This allowed me to explore, walking along the River Tweed and around the historical ramparts.  No fungi to be seen until I walked along the beach and decided to explore the grass on the edge of the sand.  After a few hours of searching I managed to find a single Bolbitius vitellinus (Yellow Cow-pat Toadstool).  This was young and well hidden amongst the tall grass.  Previously, a few years prior, I had found a single mature B vitellinus which was at the very fragile stage and in fact as soon as I'd taken the photo a big dog mowed it down.

Another find during the early weeks of May included Agaricus urinascens possibly.  Difficult to be certain but the cap did have large ochraceous patches and smelt like almonds. 

These can now be seen on Browse 4.

Phaeomarasmius erinaceus

Phaeomarasmius erinaceus 16th June 2012

Last Saturday in the drizzle I set off on my bike to visit a friend.  En route she texted me to say she was running 30 minutes late.  Unknown to me at the time this turned out to be a blessing.

Despite the appalling light and heavy drizzle I decided to spend the 30 minutes killing time by visiting the nearby Attenborough Nature Reserve and search for fungi.   It was so muddy I had difficulty riding my bike. It  wasn't long before I passed by a willow tree low to the ground.  On a branch very close to the ground and obscured by a higher branch were two tiny little ochraceous fungi.

The cap being 1 cm diameter,  scaly and with a paler, fringed margin.  The stem being concolorous with cap but darker and with coarse scales.  Being curved and no ring.  My first impression was that it looked like a

Pholiota squarrosa in miniature.  Managed to get a few decent photographs despite the bad light and persistent drizzle.

According to the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland, 235 have been recorded, 51 being in Scotland.

Two have been previously recorded in Nottinghamshire and my find at Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire

will be added to the database, making a third, now that a spore print analysis proves a positive i.d.  Thanks to Richard Rogers, Notts Fungi Group for carrying this out.

My images will be added to Browse 4 at fungiworld.co.uk in a few months time.