Hilliers Garden Fungus Walks and Exhibition
Sat 9 Nov 2024
Ramariopsis subtilis
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2427
OS Grid areas: SU3723
Report: Prior to another weekend of public guided forays, we spent the day setting up our display and collecting a few samples from a short exploration of the grounds, mainly in the Brentry pine woods across the road. Here, we found Tricholoma sulphureum (Sulphur Knight), Geastrum fimbriatum (Sessile Earthstar), Russula sardonia (Primrose Brittlegill), Clitocybe phyllophila (Frosty Funnel), Auriscalpium vulgare (Ear Pick Fungus) and Phaeolus schweinitzii (Dyer’s Mazegill).
The guided walks on the 9th produced some interesting species, particularly around the mulched flowerbeds. These included Leratiomyces ceres (Redlead Roundhead), Helvella elastica (Elastic Saddle) and Helvella crispa (White Saddle), Mycena flavoalba (Ivory Bonnet), Clavulina rugosa (Wrinkled Club), Crucibulum laeve (Common Bird’s Nest) and Gliophorus psittacinus (Parrot Waxcap). On the morning walk, a strange Helvella (Saddle) species was found below a lime tree on the lawn. It had the appearance of a ‘cup on a stick’ with a solid stem, a dark brown inner surface to the cup and a lighter outer surface with a granular texture. Initial microscopy indicated that it might be Helvella fibrosa, a very rare find. In the afternoon, a troop of cup fungi were discovered under a trackside pine and were thought to be Peziza succosa (Yellowing Cup).
The dry weather held for us on the 10th when we added Pholiota gummosa (Sticky Scalycap), Bolbitius titubans (Yellow Fieldcap), Tapinella panuoides (Oyster Rollrim), Tarzetta catinus (Greater Toothed Cup) and the earthtongue, Geoglossum fallax. Amongst some Cuphophyllus virgineus (Snowy Waxcap) on the lawn behind the centre, we discovered a delicate white coral which proved to be Ramariopsis subtilis (Slender Coral).