Monthly Archives: August 2014

30th August 2014, Ladywell Fields

I took another roam around Ladywell Fields in August not expecting to find much, but was pleasantly surprised with the variety.

Ladywell Fields is absolutely covered with Fairy Ring Mushrooms. I only noticed them last year, but now I know what to look for they’re everywhere! The dark patches or dark rings in the grass can be spotted from a distance and I counted about 20 rings. The smallest are about 4 feet across and the biggest was over 20 feet.


1. Unidentified.
Growing under sycamore. Cluster of about 8. Immature cap 2-5cm. Plesant mushroom/almond smell. Flesh bruising somewhat red. Looks exacly like another find under a sycamore in different part of the park but spores are a different size. Spores 4.5-6µ x 4-5µ.

2. Brown Mottlegill (Panaeolina foenisecii).
In grass near oak. Only a few. 1.5-2cm. Slight fungus smell. ID is very likely.

3. Unidentified.
In grass near oak. Only a few. Cap 3.5cm, 5-7cm tall. Similar to find 2, might be the same, might not. Sporeprint black. Spores 11.5-15.5µ x 6-8µ.

4. Unidentified.
In earth/grass under oak. Two. Cap 4-6cm. Smell indistinct. Soft flesh bruising red at stem base and top of cap. Initially thought this might be Red Cracking Bolete, but that doesn't grow under oak. Spores 9.5-10.5µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

5. Sepia Bolete (Xerocomus porosporus).
In earth/grass under oak. One. Cap 7cm. ID is best guess.

6. Russula cicatricata.
In earth/grass under oak. A few scattered around. Cap 4cm. Slight odd/unpleasant smell at first, later very fishy. Taste mild, slightly sweet. Old dryish specimen would not peel. Young one peeled over half. Spores minutely spikey. Sporeprint whitish but not enough to be specific. Spores 6.5-8.5µ x 5.5-7µ. Spores minutely spikey.

7. Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda).
Growing by elder tree. Cap 4-10cm. No smell. ID is almost sure. Sporeprint black. Spores 7-10µ x 5.5-7µ.

8. Unidentified.
Brackets on side and bottom of log. Up to 10cm across. Mild fungus smell. Sporeprint whitish but not enough to be specific.

9. Cramp Balls (Daldinia concentrica).
Growing on deciduous log. Up to 6cm across.

10. Unidentified.
Brackets on deciduous stump. Up to 13cm across. Sweetish smell. Spores 10.5-12µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

11. Fairy Ring Mushroom (Marasmius oreades).
In grass. Over 20 rings all over the park. Rings from 4 feet across to over 20 feet.

12. Unidentified.
Growing in grass not near any tree. Two together and one further away. Cap 3-4cm. No smell. Can't be a fibrecap because it's not near any tree, but perhaps a type of conecap? Sporeprint tan or dark cream but not enough to be specific. Spores 7.5-9µ x 5.5-7µ.

24th August 2014, Wepham Wood near Angmering

Last year there was quite a lot around these woods in August, but not much this time. Just a strikingly orange Small Stagshorn, some Beech Woodwart that I might not have noticed if there were more interesting things to distract me, one nice Tuberous Polypore, and Cultivated Mushrooms choosing to grow in the more manured parts of a sheep pasture.


1. Small Stagshorn (Calocera cornea).
Growing on rotting conifer stump. Up to 1cm long. Very orange. Small Stagshorn grows on decidous wood which is wrong, but Yellow Stagshorn is not this small. ID is best guess.

2. Beech Woodwart (Hypoxylon fragiforme).
Growing on dead beech branches. Very many nodules. Up to 1cm but mostly much smaller. Hard but can be scratched open.

3. Tuberous Polypore (Polyporus tuberaster).
Growing on dead beech branch. One. 7cm across. Fungusy smell. Tough flesh. Think this must be Tuberous Polypore although my spores are a bit wider than expected. Sporeprint white. Spores 9.5-14.5µ x 6-7.5µ.

4. Cultivated Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).
Growing in manured parts of sheep pasture. Several in scattered groups. Cap 4-7cm. Mushroom smell. Has well defined ring. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint dark umber. Spores 6-8µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

17th August 2014, Ladywell Fields

Is August good for mushrooms? Yes, of course! Actually I’m not sure – I wandered around a wood on Gower last week and found absolutely nothing. But I have a prevailing resolution to properly survey the fungi of Ladywell Fields, so I decided to have a look around and I wasn’t disappointed. Several stump fungi that I’d been meaning to record for a while, some unfamiliar puffballs (Grey Puffballs), Fairyring Mushrooms earlier than I expected, and The Prince (probably). The Prince was very immature, so I’m not certain of the id. It was somewhat chewed by slugs, and I went back a few days later to see if the immature ones had developed but they were even more badly mauled.

 


1. Lumpy Bracket (Trametes gibbosa).
Growing on poplar stump. Up to 12cm across. No smell. Large white lumps on top of stump and brackets on side. Tough and rubbery.

2. Unidentified.
Growing on sides of ash stump. Up to 60cm across. Mushroomy smell. Large lumpy patches. Tough flesh.

3. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus).
Growing from base of stump. Each fan up to 12cm across, full width 24cm. Pleasant mushroomy smell. Rather old specimen. ID is very likely.

4. Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica).
Growing on ash stump. 15cm across. Fungusy smell. Flesh fibrous and rubbery but easy to cut. Strong red on outside but yellowish on inside. ID is very likely. Spores 5.5-6µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

5. Fairy Ring Mushroom (Marasmius oreades).
Growing in rings and also scattered around. Cap 2-4cm. Faint fungusy smell. One clear ring from last year seems to be breaking up this year. Sporeprint White. Spores 7-9µ x 5-6.5µ.

6. Grey Puffball (Bovista plumbea).
Scattered around in short grass. 2-4cm. Strong pleasant mushroom smell. Very mild flavour. Casing breaks away easily. Old fruiting bodies more grey than brown. Eaten. ID is fairly likely. Spores 5-6µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

7. The Prince (Agaricus augustus).
Growing under sycamore. Immature cap 9cm across. Whole body 12cm high. Almond smell. Only immature specimens so hard to identify but definitely an Agaricus and The Prince is closest. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint Dark brown. Spores 6-8µ x 4-5.5µ.

8. Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris).
Growing in short grass. Only one. Cap 4.5cm. Mushroom with aniseed hint. Not sure of this id but lack of ring and lack of yellow in cut flesh makes Field Mushroom the most likely. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint Dark brown. Spores 7-8µ x 4.5-5.5µ.