Monthly Archives: November 2015

14th November 2015, Andrew’s Wood near Shoreham

I didn’t go to Andrew’s Wood last year, although it is a good site. Not as good as the ancient woodlands and parklands, but holds its own. This year I’ve been trying to get out into the Kent badlands a bit more so still neglecting it, but my thinking for going in the middle of November was just that the Wood Blewits should be out and about. So I looked very hard but no, none! In fact, there was very little fungal fruit in evidence.

Overall, a rather disappointing expedition, but I did find another specimen of Stereum ostrea. I know that this identification is somewhat unlikely but I still cannot find any other species that fits. At least this time I got some spores and they are basically correct.


1. Stereum ostrea.
Growing on beech (?) branch. Many scattered along the branch. Up to 3cm wide. Mild fungusy smell. Quite leathery texture. I've found this species in Andrew's Wood before. It's the one that's noted in Roger Phillip's book as not being found in the wild in England. So I'm sticking to my guns here as I tried to find another possible id, and failed. ID is fairly likely. Spores 4.5-6.5µ x 3-4µ.

2. Tawny Funnel (Lepista flaccida).
Growing in oak-leaf/needle litter right beside larch tree. Group of five. Cap 4.5-7.5cm. Slight mushroomy smell. Some of the pictures are a bit misleading by showing it paler than it really was. ID is almost sure. Sporeprint whitish, but not enough to be sure. Spores 3.5-5µ x 3-4µ.

3. Mycena flavescens.
Growing in oak-leaf/larch-needle litter. One. Cap 2cm, stem 8cm. No smell. Strikingly tall stem. There's a lot of similar Mycena so not possible to be sure about the id. ID is best guess. Sporeprint whitish, but not enough to be sure. Spores 6-8.5µ x 4.5-6.5µ.

4. Unidentified.
Growing in grass in field. A few scattered widely. Cap 0.7-1.5cm, stem up to 6cm. No smell. It's very hard to identify these small brown mushrooms. Sporeprint black. Spores 11.5-14µ x 8-9µ.

5. Glistening Inkcap (Coprinus micaceus).
Growing on log. Many clusters. Cap up to 3.5cm. No smell. I always find this species growing in soil right beside a tree or dead wood, but apparently it can also grow directly on dead wood. ID is very likely. Sporeprint very dark brown, nearly black. Spores 7-9µ x 5-6µ.

6. Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon).
Growing on rotting mossy logs. Many all over the logs. 1-3cm long. My spore size measurements are too small but it must be Candlesnuff so the nature of the spores must make them somehow misdirecting. Sporeprint white. Spores 8-10.5µ x 2-4µ.

7. Unidentified.
Growing in grass near birch tree. One. 20cm wide. Smell of fruity earthy rubber! Very unusual to find a fan structure of this kind growing in the earth instead of on dead wood. Sporeprint whitish, but not enough to be sure. Spores 5-7.5µ x 4.5-6µ.

8. Unidentified.
Growing in grass near birch tree. Several scattered around. Cap 3-7cm. Smell of unpleasant coconut, or funny cloying chemical or paint. Spores 6.5-8.5µ x 5.5-6.5µ.