Hampshire Fungal News
Poronia punctata ©Sue Howe
Poronia punctata report
Hampshire Wildlife Trust has just published a report of a survey conducted in 2010-11 to assess the occurrence of Poronia punctata, the Nail Fungus, in the New Forest. Compared to the survey conducted in the same way in 2003-04 there was an increase in the number of sightings which is good news as the New Forest a global stronghold for the species. Download (8MB) Mar 2011
Caloscypha fulgens ©Sue Rogerson
Caloscypha fulgens outbreak
2011 is the spring for Caloscypha fulgens it seems. Apart from Alan Lucas reporting finding it at two sites in the Forest, Leif Goodwin has found it in North Hampshire, a new ViceCounty record. The tally does not stop there because according to Kew there have been three new county firsts for Sussex, Surrey and Kent and maybe another occurence in Huntingdonshire. With its striking orange interior and blue external surface it is clearly visible amongst the green background of the mossy habitat it favours. Mar 2011
©Stuart Skeates
Slime monster
Following a report from Mary Parker about possible 'large slime mould' growing on the end of a branch near East Meon Paul Hugill and myself visited the site on different days. The 'slime' is known as a slime-flux which was suggested by Tony Mundell when he forwarded Mary's email to me. A slime-flux is sap undergoing fermentation by a mixture of bacteria and fungi. A similar record in 2006 ,known as The Tyntesfield Monster, puzzled Kew until its identity was established and reported in some detail in Field Mycology Oct 2006 7(4) p128-131 by Alick Henrici, Joyce Andrews and John Bailey. Mar 2011
Multiclavula vernalis ©Paul Hugill
Multiclavula vernalis returns
There was considerable excitement last year when Multiclavula vernalis was first found near Hawley Lake by Keith Blackmore and reached the national press. Its appearance has been reported again this year by Mike Waterman and Paul Hugill. It is a lichenised fungus growing with algae on the soil. Mar 2011
Book: Photographing fungi
Paul Hugill has now given away the secrets of his photography skills in a recently published book entitled 'How to photograph Fungi'. It is available from Blurb one of the growing online print on demand websites. Mar 2010
Book: Field guide
New Book: HFRG members Barry Hughes and Paul Sterry have written the new edition of Collins 'Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools'. Oct 2009
Hericium erinaceus ©Stuart Skeates
Bearded Tooth spreads North
Hericium erinaceus (The Bearded Tooth) has been found at a new Hampshire location in VC12 by Sue Hiley at Kempshott near Basingstoke. Do keep a look out on beech trees for this rare striking fungus, looking as it does like a mop head. Oct 2009
Guidance from the BMS and Home Office on picking psilocin containing fungi is now on the document page. Apr 2006
