Exbury
Sun 17 Nov 2024
Aleuria aurantia
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2420
OS Grid areas: SU4200
Report: As usual, our annual visit to these beautiful gardens proved popular with our members and we were pleased to renew acquaintances with our guides for the day, Linda and Juliet.
The mown grass lawns provided considerable interest with a nice array of waxcaps, although many were passed their best. Notable amongst these were Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus (Cedarwood Waxcap) and Porpoplomopsis calyptriformis (Pink Waxcap). There were also some luxuriant clumps of Clavulinopsis corniculata (Meadow Coral) as well as Rickenella schwartzii (Collared Mosscap), Dermoloma cuneifolium (Crazed Cap) and Handkea utriforme (Mosaic Puffball).
A small, greyish species with a wavy edge to the cap and a woolly stipe caused some head-scratching but it was later determined as Arrhenia acerosa (Moss Oysterling). A number of earthtongue species were in evidence, including Microglossum olivaceum (Olive Earthtongue).
The highlight of the mown grassland was Clavulina zollingeri (Violet Coral), a beautiful little species that one of our members, Julie, had found here in October but thankfully it was still hanging on to impress the group. It has a north-western distribution in the UK so was an extremely rare find for Hampshire.
Switching our attention to the flowerbeds and trackways added more interesting finds including Tricholoma terreum (Grey Knight), Tricholoma batschii, Macrocystidia cucumis (Cucumber Cap), Conocybe rugosa (Wrinkled Conecap), Cyathus striatus (Striated Bird’s Nest), Psilocybe cyanescens (Blueleg Brownie), Coprinopsis lagopus (Hare’s-foot Inkcap), Volvopluteus gloiocephalus (Stubble Rosegill), Aleuria aurantia (Orange Peel Fungus) and Geastrum triplex (Collared Earthstar).
Some small bracket fungi on a conifer stump which were oozing amber droplets proved to be Ischnoderma benzoinum (Benzoin Bracket), whilst another white bracket with clear droplets on the surface was identified as Postia guttulata.
Our walk back was interrupted by some impressive Helvella crispa (White Saddle) and Tricholoma saponaceum var. squamosum (Soapy Knight). This variety had an olive-toned, dark brown cap and a distinctive dark-scaled stipe.