Ramaria stricta

Ramaria stricta

Snow, snow and more snow.  This Winter has not been favourable for finding fungi - the ground either being covered in snow or frost and the air temperature being too dry.  Regardless, there was a sudden overnight thaw and so I set off for a tramp around the Nottingham University Park.  It was still bitterly cold, but I decided to persevere.  It paid off.  I was just about to give up when thought I would wander along a minor road lined with shrubs, conifers nearby,  covered in tree bark.  It was there I spotted a coral fungus.  A huge clump and somehow it had been preserved under the snow the previous day.  Very tall, beige with lilac hues.  This was different to other coral fungus I'd seen before.  I took some photographs and in my excitement and probably because I was so cold, I forgot to take a sample.

I checked my books and had a feeling it was Ramaria Stricta, (Upright Coral) as the height was about right and it was very vertical, so sent the photos over to my contact RR at the Notts Fungi Group.  He thought the same but wanted to do a spore test.  So I said I would collect a sample.  The first chance I got was prior to my evening Nordic Walking class. So in the pitch black on hands and knees, dodging security, as my car was illegally parked, I managed to find it and collect a decent sample in a plastic container.  Safely kept in the fridge over night I handed over the sample to RR the following evening.  The spore test confirmed R. stricta
so a great result.  In some parts of the country this is vulnerable and is on the red data list but it seems it is not so uncommon in Nottinghamshire.  All worth the effort as the photo has also been added to Notts Fungi Group website.

Also, as mentioned earlier in a previous blog, the photographs are on the website of Mycelium found on a log that had a chunk of bark missing, thus exposing the usually hidden mycelium.

These photographs can now be viewed on Browse 4.

Mycelium

What is Mycelium?

Briefly, mycelium is a thread-like material that usually remains hidden underground in soil or under the surface of tree logs.  It is known as the vegetative part of the fungus.  It is from mycelia that the fruit body of a fungus forms. Mycelium may be minute in size or vast.

(For example in East Oregon mycelium spread covered the size of 1,665 football pitches and was approximately 2,200 years old. Source: Paul Stamets, Wikipedia.).

It is via the mycelium that a fungus absorbs nutrients also it assists in the process of decomposition of plant material.

Yesterday I saw exposed mycelium because a slice of dead tree log had fallen to the ground, thus exposing a network of mycelium strands.  It was a truly fascinating sight as it gave me an insight as to just what goes on underground and out of view of the human eye.  The invisible work that goes on prior to the fruiting body (the mushroom) surfacing.

  I was lucky enough to see this at Annersley Wood, Nottinghamshire.  It was raining steadily, was cold, but after the recent prolonged snow the foliage was bright green.  RE had kindly offered to drive me to this wood, which was new territory for me.  Afterwards, we tucked into a very welcome and gorgeous chicken casserole, so thank you for that.

This photograph will appear on Browse 4 in the future.

Crepidotus variabilis

Crepidotus variabilis (Variable oysterling)

Visited Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire, during November 2012 accompanied by a friend who also enjoys the Shipley Woods as much as myself.  Such an atmospheric wood the majority of trees being ancient beech.  We always come away feeling peaceful.

There are also many dead beech trunks lying around and on one such log I found my first ever
Crepidotus variabilis.  Not very big only up to 2cm diam. -  a dirty looking white kidney-shape.
The texture being felty/hairy and just a small cluster of three or four.  The gills are particularly impressive in their beauty - being distant and very decurrent..

Also on the same log were a little cluster of Calocera cornea.  A maximum of 2 cm in height and very difficult to photograph. Awl shaped and not forked.  Bright yellow when fresh and then turning more orange in maturity.  Felt tough and gelatinous.

These photographs can now be seen on Browse 4.

Pholiota adiposa and Berwick-upon-Tweed

Pholiota adiposa and a return to Berwick-upon-Tweed October 2012


It's not very often I return to visit a place twice in the space of six months but I found Berwick-upon-Tweed so tranquil and soothing that I just had to go back and experience it again.  October being prime fungi season, so hoped to find a few on my walkabouts.  A preview of the weather forecast didn't bode well, with yet more rain on the way, and yes it was raining on the journey, and the view from the train window showed bales of hay and straw marooned on little islands surrounded by vast areas of water-logged fields.

It rained persistently and very heavily for two out of my three full days and it looked jolly miserable, but I was still happy.  Breakfast and a new guest at the table. A travel writer for the Times doing a piece on weekend breaks.  He asked me why I liked Berwick to which I replied - it's a good place to come if you want to get off the treadmill of life!  What are you doing here he asked?  I'm taking photographs of British Fungi I told him.  He put down his knife and fork and said, well I've never been told that before!

I came across Tubifera ferruginosa by chance.  Had walked around the Ramparts in the heavy rain and took shelter under a small tree so I could stand and observe the rough sea with a huge Spring Tide.
On the tree trunk were 3 orange Tubifera f.  Quite small up to 5 cm, and irregularly shaped, so I took photos in perspective and a close-up showing the individual sporgangia.

On the one day without rain and some morning sunshine, I took the bus over the River Tweed to Spittal.
Did a partial cliff walk and at the top near a path in short grass,  I found  a few (I think) Hygrocybe ceracea.  Very bright yellow, waxy and greasy texture.  Very small cap maximum 4 cm diam with no odour.

A little disappointed not to have found more fungi I decided on my last afternoon to have one final look around.  The rain didn't cease until 3pm and the light was very bad but I still went out searching.
Was just about to give up when I approached a few trees tucked away in a very damp and moss covered area deep down below the ramparts.  At first I thought I was looking at Pholiota squarrosa which I had previously seen and photographed some years ago in Scotland.  But these were different.  Still the same characteristic stem with smooth surface above the delicate ring and bands of rust scales below.
But the colour and texture of the cap was different.  The scales did not over hang the margin edge and the ring seemed more fragile.  Also the margin edge was not so in-rolled. Depending on which fungi book you read the colour of the gills varies from light buff initially to deep rust on maturity.  So I believe this might be Pholiota adiposa.  Certainly not squarrosa.  A race against time as the light was fading fast and managed to get some photographs, but the camera has not quite captured the colours that I saw.

These photographs can now be viewed on Browse 4.

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.