Leckford
Sun 1 Sep 2024
Adelphella babingtonii
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2411
OS Grid areas: SU2606 SU2506
Report: Quite a large group gathered on a sunny and humid day. We began by exploring the parkland of the Leckford Estate but with little to find in the very dry conditions we later transferred to the wet woodland bordering the River Test to the south.
Whilst most of us scoured the dry soil of the parkland, one of the group had the foresight to look upwards and discovered a pristine Volvariella bombycina (Silky Rosegill) about 3 metres up the trunk of a Sweet-chestnut tree. The outer surface of the cap was bright yellow, instead of the usual white.
Down towards the river we were soon creeping about beneath the low branches of a willow carr. Here, there was more to be found but some needed the aid of a hand-lens to appreciate. Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem) was quite numerous in places and there were some large examples of Polyporus leptocephalus (Blackfoot Polypore) and Postia stiptica (Bitter Bracket).
Amongst the more diminutive finds were Mycena aciculare (Orange Bonnet), Xylaria longipes (Dead Moll’s Fingers) and Xylaria carpophila (Beechmast Candlesnuff). An excellent find was the scarce Helvella ephippium, a small saddle fungi with a densely hairy outer surface to the cap and a downy stipe.
Things could only get smaller after this with the discovery of Hymenoscyphus fructigenus (Nut Disco) on decaying acorns, the brown discs of Adelphella babingtonii on wood and a grey Trichophaeopsis sp. (Eyelash sp.) on the damp soil.