Spearywell/Great Wood
Sat 9 Sep 2023
Asterophora lycoperdoides
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2313
Report: It was a very hot and sunny day but in the shade of the woods it was mercifully cool and despite the recent dry spell there were still areas of dampness to encourage the fungi.
As we struck off the path and into a stand of Beech, we soon noticed a plethora of Hydnum repandum (Wood Hedgehog) and the decaying remains of what could well have been Russula nigricans (Blackening Brittlegill). On a few of the latter we were pleased to find the parasitic fruit-bodies of Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback), the caps of which disintegrate into a mass of powdery brown spores prior to dispersal.
Several Hymenopellis radicata (Rooting Shank) were found and then some clumps of Craterellus cornucopioides (Horn of Plenty). Amongst the latter we then discovered the rarer Cantharellus melanoxeros (Blackening Chanterelle). This species was a pale yellowish in colour with blackening rims to the rather misshapen trumpets, the underside of which had much deeper grooves than that of the Craterellus.
Continuing down the slope, we then came to a damp ditch, the banks of which had a fine colony of Thelephora penicillata (Urchin Earthfan) and quite a few of the fragile little white mushrooms, Delicatula integrella. A few pieces of damp wood bore the tiny eyelash fungus, Scutellinia crinita.
We worked our way along the bank where we discovered a small brown shield mushroom growing on wood, which was thought to be Pluteus nanus (Dwarf Shield) but was collected for further analysis. We also saw the crust fungi Laxitextum bicolor and Heterobasisdium annosum (Root Rot) on fallen pines.
A narrow grassy ride produced Scleroderma areolatum (Leopard Earthball) and Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (Weeping Widow). A fibrecap, possibly Inocybe curvipes and a bulbous-stiped, violet webcap (Cortinarius sp.) were taken away for examination.
Returning to the beechwood, we stopped for lunch, before ascending the hill back towards the car-park. Here, we soon added Hygrocybe helobia (Garlic Waxcap), Lycoperdon nigrescens (Dusky Puffball), Xylaria polymorpha (Dead Man’s Fingers), Infundibulicybe gibba (Common Funnel) and a couple of attractive Cortinarius bolaris (Dappled Webcap).
Lactarius camphoratus (Curry Milkcap) was the next find, with a strong scent to match its name and then, a less pleasant aroma, led us to Phallus impudicus (Stinkhorn) and, nearby, an interesting slime-mould, Stemonitis fusca, with brush-like filaments was seen on a fallen log.
Species recorded: Amanita citrina var. citrina (False Deathcap), Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback), Bjerkandera adusta (Smoky Bracket), Calocera viscosa (Yellow Stagshorn), Cantharellus tubaeformis (Trumpet Chanterelle), Chlorociboria aeruginascens (Green Elfcup), Cortinarius bolaris (Dappled Webcap), Craterellus cornucopioides (Horn Of Plenty), Craterellus melanoxeros (Blackening Chanterelle), Daedaleopsis confragosa (Blushing Bracket), Daldinia concentrica (King Alfred's Cakes), Delicatula integrella, Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore), Ganoderma adspersum (Southern Bracket), Gymnopus confluens (Clustered Toughshank), Heterobasidion annosum (Root Rot), Hydnum repandum (Wood Hedgehog), Hygrocybe helobia (Garlic Waxcap), Hymenopellis radicata (Rooting Shank), Infundibulicybe gibba (Common Funnel), Inocybe curvipes, Inocybe geophylla var. geophylla (White Fibrecap), Inocybe rimosa (Split Fibrecap), Laccaria laccata (Deceiver), Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (Weeping Widow), Lactarius camphoratus (Curry Milkcap), Laxitextum bicolor, Lycoperdon nigrescens (Dusky Puffball), Lycoperdon perlatum (Common Puffball), Mycena amicta (Coldfoot Bonnet), Mycena filopes (Iodine Bonnet), Panellus stipticus (Bitter Oysterling), Phaeolus schweinitzii (Dyer's Mazegill), Phallus impudicus var. impudicus (Stinkhorn), Phlebia radiata (Wrinkled Crust), Physisporinus sanguinolentus (Bleeding Porecrust), Pluteus cervinus (Deer Shield), Pluteus nanus (Dwarf Shield), Polyporus leptocephalus (Blackfoot Polypore), Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem), Russula cyanoxantha (Charcoal Burner), Russula pseudo-olivascens,), Russula vesca (The Flirt), Schizopora radula, Scleroderma areolatum (Leopard Earthball), Scleroderma citrinum (Common Earthball), Scutellinia crinita, Skeletocutis amorpha (Rusty Crust), Skeletocutis semipileata (Hazel Bracket), Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust), Stereum sanguinolentum (Bleeding Conifer Crust), Stereum subtomentosum (Yellowing Curtain Crust), Thelephora penicillata (Urchin Earthfan), Trametes versicolor (Turkeytail), Xylaria hypoxylon (Candlesnuff Fungus), Xylaria polymorpha (Dead Man's Fingers)
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.