Franchises
Sun 29 Sep 2024
Clitocybe fragrans
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2416
OS Grid areas: SU2316
Report: For this, our second visit of the year to this RSPB reserve we set off from the Telegraph Hill entrance and headed down a bracken covered slope in overcast but dry and mild conditions.
With birch predominating, it was no surprise that the initial finds included Lactarius tabidus (Birch Milkcap), Tricholoma fulvum (Birch Knight) and Russula betularum (Birch Brittlegill). We also encountered Postia tephroleuca (Greyling Bracket), Leccinum cyaneobasileucum (Greyshank Bolete) and Boletus edulis (Cep).
Subsequently, we entered an area of mixed woodland which produced Suillus grevillei (Larch Bolete), Russula velenovskyi (Coral Brittlegill), Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Deceiver) and Pluteus cervinus (Deer Shield).
In a more open area we found Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (Weeping Widow), a probable Pluteus pouzarianus, the purple jellydisc, Ascocoryne cylichnium and the impressive toothed bracket, Mycoacia nothofagi, on Beech.
We lunched in an area of pines where we saw Postia caesia (Conifer Blueing Bracket) and, shortly after, we found two Clitocybe species growing just a few metres apart. The first had a pleasant odour and proved to be Clitocybe fragrans (Fragrant Funnel) whilst the second had, by all accounts, a much more unpleasant smell and from a sample taken, was later identified as Clitocybe phaeophthalma (Chicken Run Funnel).
The walk back added Helvella crispa (White Saddle), Armillaria ostoyae (Dark Honey Fungus) and Tricholoma scioides (Beech Knight). We then came upon a living but possibly doomed Beech tree surrounded by nine large rosettes of Meripilus giganteus (Giant Polypore).
One last surprise awaited us behind the car park where a large Sparassis crispa (Wood Cauliflower) was found at the base of a pine.