West Wood
Sun 21 Nov 2021
Coprinellus impatiens
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2129
Report: It was a clear and sunny day but rather cold with a light northerly breeze.
The section of wood we explored was mainly under beech and hazel coppice and at first there seemed to be few fungi in evidence but as the morning progressed more species were discovered.
Echinoderma asperum (Freckled Dapperling) was an early find and there was the usual array of bonnets including the showy Mycena rosea (Rosy Bonnet), M. speirea (Bark Bonnet), M. haematopus (Burgundydrop Bonnet) and the tiny M. capillaris (Beechleaf Bonnet) which grows on dead leaves.
A small shield fungus with a yellowish stipe proved to be the uncommon Pluteus romellii (Goldleaf Shield) and there was a fine example of the crust fungi Phlebiella sulphurea (Yellow Cobweb).
Another good find was the ivory-coloured Rhodocybe fallax with slightly decurrent creamy gills.
Excitement rose with the discovery of several fruiting bodies of the bluish Stropharia cyanea (Blue Roundhead) though none were in prime condition. Nearby, we found a distinctive-looking inkcap with an unusual pattern of striations on the cap which gave the appearance of piano keys. A sample was taken and proved to be the scarce Coprinellus impatiens (Pin-striped Inkcap).
The cold weather brought our exploration to an earlier than usual close, but not before the tiny Xylaria carpophila (Beechmast Candlesnuff) was found growing on the husks of the nut and Geastrum triplex (Collared Earthstar).
Species recorded: Amanita phalloides, Armillaria mellea, Byssomerulius corium, Cantharellus tubaeformis, Clavulina coralloides, Clitocybe fragrans, Clitocybe nebularis, Coprinellus impatiens, Coprinellus micaceus, Cortinarius cagei, 1821, Crepidotus cesatii, Cystolepiota seminuda, Daldinia concentrica, Echinoderma asperum, Exidia nucleata, Galerina marginata, Geastrum triplex, Helvella crispa, Heterobasidion annosum, Hygrophorus discoxanthus, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Hypholoma fasciculare var. fasciculare, Inocybe asterospora, Inocybe flocculosa, Inocybe fuscidula var. fuscidula, Inocybe maculata, Laccaria amethystina, Laccaria laccata, Lactarius blennius, Lactarius subdulcis, Laetiporus sulphureus, Lepista nuda, Mycena capillaris, Mycena filopes, Mycena galericulata, Mycena haematopus, Mycena pura, Mycena rosea, Mycena speirea, Nectria cinnabarina, Phlebiella sulphurea, Piptoporus betulinus, Pluteus cervinus, Pluteus romellii, Pluteus salicinus, Postia stiptica, Psathyrella microrhiza, Rhodocollybia butyracea, Rhodocybe fallax, Rickenella fibula, Russula nobilis, Russula ochroleuca, Stereum hirsutum, Stropharia cyanea, Trametes versicolor, Tricholoma sulphureum var. sulphureum, Tubaria furfuracea, Xerula radicata, Xylaria carpophila, Xylaria hypoxylon
A full species list with further details can be seen at the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland (FRDBI). Please contact us if you need a user ID.