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.
Species recorded: Botryobasidium aureum, Ceriporia purpurea, Claviceps purpurea var. purpurea (Ergot), Coprinellus disseminatus (Fairy Inkcap), Crepidotus mollis (Peeling Oysterling), Daldinia concentrica (King Alfred's Cakes), Datronia mollis (Common Mazegill), Entoloma albotomentosum, Flammulaster muricatus, Ganoderma australe s. str. (Southern Bracket), Gymnopus fusipes (Spindle Toughshank), Hyphoderma argillaceum, Hyphoderma roseocremeum, Inocybe griseolilacina (Lilac Leg Fibrecap), Inocybe mixtilis, Phanerochaete magnoliae, Phellinus igniarius (Willow Bracket), Phlebiella tulasnelloidea, Phloeomana speirea (Bark Bonnet), Phragmidium violaceum (Violet Bramble Rust), Polyporus leptocephalus (Blackfoot Polypore), Postia subcaesia (Blueing Bracket), Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem), Rhytisma acerinum (Sycamore Tarspot), Schizopora paradoxa (Split Porecrust), Schizopora radula, Scopuloides rimosa, Sebacina incrustans (Enveloping Crust), Sidera vulgaris, Steccherinum ochraceum, Trichaptum abietinum (Purplepore Bracket), Volvariella bombycina (Silky Rosegill), Xylaria carpophila (Beechmast Candlesnuff)
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.