17th October 2014, Shipbourne Forest near Borough Green

This is a large forest  of about 10 square kilometres with different names for different parts:  Shipbourne Forest, Hurst Wood, Mereworth Woods, Leybourne Wood, and others. I’ve decided to call it Shipbourne Forest because ‘forest’ sounds more primordial. But I’m not sure whether much or any of it is ancient. There was a lot of sweet chestnut coppices – rather boring from a mycological point of view.

I last came to the forest over 20 years ago, partly because it looked promising for mushrooms and partly as an excuse to drop in on a girl I knew who lived in Plaxtol. I have no records but recall finding plenty of False Deathcaps. And indeed I found another this day.

Overall a bit disappointing, wandering through the woods with hardly anything to find. But still some species that I haven’t seen before, and a few puzzles to ponder: Some samples of The Miller (I think), a waxcap that doesn’t seem to fit, very large clumps of Clustered Brittlestem, and others.


1. Bulbous Bonnet (Mycena stylobates).
Growing on twigs. Many on each twig. Cap up to 1cm. No smell. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint white. Spores 7.5-11.5µ x 3-4.5µ.

2. Type of Boletus.
Growing under birch. One. Cap 10cm. Slimy cap. On cutting, tubes and cap above tubes turning green/blue. Thought this was a Slippery Jack but that doesn't seem to fit.

3. Bitter Bracket (Postia stiptica).
Growing on pine log. Lots of brackets scattered over several logs. Up to 8cm across. Bottom half made of tubes up to 1cm long. Next time I'll taste this to check if it's very bitter, as reported. ID is fairly likely.

4. Oak Mazegill (Daedalea quercina).
Growing on log, possibly sweet chestnut. Several. 5-20cm across. Strong sweet mushroomy smell.

5. Clustered Brittlestem (Psathyrella multipedata).
Growing in grass moderately near to various trees. Several huge clusters. Cap 1-4cm. No smell. Young ones tan, then darkening and to grey. Sporeprint dark umber. Spores 6-7.5µ x 3-5.5µ.

6. Common Cavalier (Melanoleuca polioleuca).
Growing on rotted leafmould. Three. Cap 5-7cm. Little smell. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint white. Spores 6.5-8µ x 4-6.5µ.

7. The Miller (Clitopilus prunulus).
Growing on rotted leafmould. Several scattered around. Cap 2-5cm. Mealy smell I think. Habitat isn't quite right for The Miller, but it fits in every other respect. Unfortunately forgot to get a specimen, so no spore picture. ID is very likely.

8. Lilac Bonnet (Mycena pura).
Growing on rotted leafmould. Three. Cap 5cm. Faint unpleasant smell, radish perhaps. I see this mushroom a lot and decided a while back that it's Lilac Bonnet, but perhaps it's Rosy Bonnet? ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint white. Spores 6.5-8µ x 4.5-5.5µ.

9. Cep (Boletus edulis).
Growing next to a tiny alder in pine and sweet chestnut wood. One. Cap 7cm across, 12cm high. No smell. Covered with slugs - I had to pick off half-a-dozen. Very few spores were obtained so the spores data might be from contamination. Spores 8-8.5µ x 4.5-5µ.

10. Lilac Bonnet (Mycena pura).
Growing in grass under oak. One. Cap 5cm across. 10cm high. Faint unpleasant smell, radish perhaps. ID is almost sure. Sporeprint white. Spores 6.5-8µ x 4-5.5µ.

11. Unidentified.
Growing in grass under oak. A few. Cap 1.5-3cm. No smell. Tough stem. Very small spores. Sporeprint white. Spores 4-5.5µ x 2.5-3.5µ.

12. Type of Waxcap.
Growing in grass under oak. Several. Cap 3-4cm of mature specimens. No smell. Tough stem, much thicker at top, hairy at bottom. This really does look like a waxcap but I can't pin it to any particular species. Small and large specimens must be the same species as they have identical spores. Spores are a bit curious - round and warty. Sporeprint white. Spores 7-9µ x 6-8µ.

13. Tripe Fungus (Auricularia mesenterica).
Spread all over large log. No smell. Spongy/fleshy feel.

14. Unidentified.
Spread all over standing dead pine. Up to 6cm across, 3cm deep. Thin and leathery.

15. False Deathcap (Amanita citrina).
Growing under oak. One. Cap 4.5cm. Smell of raw potato although not very strong. Sporeprint white. Spores 6.5-7.5µ x 6-7.5µ.

16. Type of Russula.
Growing under oak. One. Cap 3.5cm. No smell. Very mild taste. Cap 2/3 peeling. Sporeprint white. Spores 5.5-8µ x 4.5-6.5µ.