Stockbridge Down
Sat 11 Apr 2015
Lachnella alboviolascens
Photo © Paul Hugill
Field event ID HF1502
OS Grid areas: SU3834 SU3835 SU3734 SU3735
Weather: A high pressure system had produced no rain over the country for the previous week although this broke the night before the foray. The rain cleared by the start of the survey and we had glorious sunny weather for our visit.
Report: The first group outing of the year took place on a glorious sunny day which was welcome news as the Down is quite exposed at the top. There had been little rain over the preceding weeks and consequently there was a lack of the grassland fungi we have found in the past. One old friend was there on the juniper bushes - the rust Gymnosporangium clavariiforme (Tongues of Fire) although even this was drying out. In the end only a few fungi were found but we all had an enjoyable walk on the Down.
Species list: Auricularia auricula-judae, Datronia mollis, Gymnosporangium clavariiforme, Hypoxylon fuscum, Lachnella alboviolascens, Nectria cinnabarina, Peniophora quercina, Phragmidium violaceum, Puccinia sessilis, Schizopora paradoxa, Trametes versicolor, Tremella mesenterica, Vuilleminia comedens