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.