Reptile Centre Fungus Walks and Exhibition
Sat 26 Oct 2024
HFRG display
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2417
Report: Six very well-attended public forays were carried out over the three days with additional visitors coming to the hut to view our display.
The weather was largely kind to us apart from light showers on the final afternoon.
Highlights of the morning walk on the 26th included Cordyceps militaris (Scarlet Caterpillarclub) and Panaeolus papilionaceus (Petticoat Mottlegill) on the grass lawns and Cortinarius camphoratus (Goatcheese Webcap), Cortinarius sanguineus (Blood Red Webcap), Cortinarius semisanguineus (Surprise Webcap), Cystoderma amianthinum (Earthy Powdercap) and Postia caesia (Conifer Blueing Bracket) in the pinewoods. In the afternoon when the walk included damp grassland, we added Postia ptychogaster (Powderpuff Bracket), Leccinum variicolor (Mottled Bolete), Suillus grevillei (Larch Bolete), Russula densiflora (Crowded Brittlegill) and Clavulinopsis laeticolor (Handsome Club).
Perhaps the star find, on the 27th, was Tolypocladium capitatum (Drumstick Truffleclub) which parasitises the underground tubers of false truffles. One of these truffles was later identified as Elaphomyces muricatus. A nice example of Xerocomus subtomentosus (Suede Bolete) was seen and a large troop of Clavulina rugosa (Wrinkled Club). Some small reddish-orange waxcaps found near the centre were subsequently identified as Hygrocybe marchii, whilst an unobtrusive little brown mushroom nearby, was thought to be the rare Gymnopus villosipes.
A similar suite of species was seen on the 28th but we added Leucocoprinus brebissonii (Skullcap Dapperling), the bracket, Laxietextum bicolor, Armillaria gallica (Bulbous Honey Fungus), Lepista nuda (Wood Blewit), Cantharellus tubaeformis (Winter Chanterelle), Leotia lubrica (Jellybaby) and the tiny Typhula quisquiliaris (Bracken Club).