Set Thorns
Sun 3 Dec 2023
Field event ID HF2337
Report: A combination of poor weather and the incapacitation of our chair, Eric Janke, meant that only four hardy souls were able to attend. After a couple of cold days, it had turned milder, but our foray was punctuated by the occasional shower, the last of which was particularly heavy and brought a premature end to proceedings.
Our first significant find was the delightful little Marasmius hudsonii (Holly Parachute), growing from dead Holly leaves. Though tiny, the cap is adorned with diagnostic bristly hairs. After battling our way through the Holly, we found ourselves beneath Scots Pine, where we were pleased to find Cortinarius sanguineus (Blood Red Webcap) on a decaying stump. Other discoveries nearby, included Baeospora myosura (Conifercone Cap), Mycena epipterygia (Yellowleg Bonnet), Imleria badia (Bay Bolete), Gymnopilus penetrans (Common Rustgill) and Exidia nigrescens (Warlock’s Butter).
We then passed through some mixed woodland which produced the milkcaps, Lactarius blennius, L. turpis and L. quietus (Beech, Ugly and Oakbug Milkcap), before we entered an area of firs with a mossy understory. Here, we found many ‘eggs’ of Phallus impudicus (Stinkhorn), with one or two decaying fruit-bodies, and, also, Mycena haematopus (Burgundydrop Bonnet) and Fomitopsis pinicola (Red-belted Bracket).
Moving back into more open habitat, we then saw a nice group of Cantharellus tubaeformis (Winter Chantarelle) and, along the trackside, Cortinarius semisanguineus (Surprise Webcap).
After lunch back at the car-park, our curtailed walk, produced Cantharellus cibarius (Chantarelle) and Lepista nuda (Wood Blewit) and we flushed a Woodcock from the undergrowth!
Species recorded: Apioperdon pyriforme (Stump Puffball), Baeospora myosura (Conifercone Cap), Boletus badius (Bay Bolete), Calocera viscosa (Yellow Stagshorn), Cantharellus cibarius (Chanterelle), Clitocybe nebularis (Clouded Funnel), Cortinarius sanguineus (Bloodred Webcap), Exidia plana (Warlock's Butter), Exidia thuretiana (White Brain), Fomitopsis betulina (Birch Polypore), Gymnopilus penetrans (Common Rustgill), Hypholoma fasciculare var. fasciculare (Sulphur Tuft), Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Deceiver), Laccaria laccata (Deceiver), Lactarius blennius (Beech Milkcap), Lactarius hepaticus (Liver Milkcap), Lactarius quietus (Oakbug Milkcap), Lactarius turpis (Ugly Milkcap), Lepista nuda (Wood Blewit), Lycoperdon nigrescens (Dusky Puffball), Marasmius hudsonii (Holly Parachute), Mycena epipterygia (Yellowleg Bonnet), Mycena haematopus (Burgundydrop Bonnet), Mycena tenerrima (Frosty Bonnet), Paralepista flaccida (Tawny Funnel), Phallus impudicus, Ramaria stricta (Upright Coral), Russula nobilis (Beechwood Sickener), Russula ochroleuca (Ochre Brittlegill), Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust), Tubaria furfuracea (Scurfy Twiglet), Xylaria hypoxylon (Candlesnuff Fungus)
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.