Marlborough Deeps
Sun 21 Jul 2024
Amanita excelsa var spissa
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2405
OS Grid areas: SZ2298 SZ2299
Report: This was a well-chosen site for an early season visit as the woodland is damp even during the summer months.
On our walk from the car park across the lawn, we discovered the minute Pilobolus crystallinus (Dung Cannon) on pony dung. This species consists of a 2mm transparent stem topped by a black spore capsule. The stem is water-filled and sunlight triggers it to expand until the pressure built up, forcibly ejects the spore capsule at speeds of up to 60mph and to a distance of several metres. A sticky substance in the capsule allows some spores to attach to nearby grasses where it can then be eaten by passing herbivores. In order to germinate it needs to pass through the gut of an herbivore and this dispersal mechanism ensures that the spores are projected away from the unpalatable dung heaps. Some of the dung also bore the tiny orange eyelash discs of Cheilymenia stercorea.
Once in the wood, we soon found Auriscalpium vulgare (Ear Pick Fungus), the little Marasmius hudsonii (Holly Parachute) on dead Holly leaves and the equally tiny, Gymnopus quercophilus (Oak Toughshank).
On a grassy ride we found a curious Epichloë species (Choke), a gall-like fungus that grows on grass stems. It forms a tubular constriction which inhibits the flowering of the grass. It is about 1cm long and matures from white to bright yellow.
Deeper into the wood we came across a group of impressive Ramaria (Coral) fungi which were thought to be R. pallida. Other species noted were Russula caerulea (Humpback Brittlegill), Amanita excelsa var. spissa (Grey Spotted Amanita), Amanita gemmata (Jewelled Amanita) and Neoboletus luridiformis (Scarletina Bolete).