6th November 2020, Beckenham Place Park

It is the fate of mushroom hunters to sometimes encounter things that they cannot identify, despite making every possible effort. Although I have many mushroom identification books, the one I use most is the Collins Fungi Guide (Buczacki) simply because it lists more species than any others, over 2400. But of course, it isn’t complete and doesn’t include many rare ones and foreign invaders. On this foray I found two specimens that I don’t recognise and can’t find in any of my books. One is a small innocuous looking single specimen growing from the end of a twig. It looks like Hydropus floccipes (which I’ve never encountered) but the spore shape is wrong. That has spherical spores whereas mine are elliptical or slightly bean shaped. I can’t find any other species with the right characteristics. The other species that I can’t identify is a small, nearly pure white one with a waxy look, growing in woodland. There’s quite a few mushrooms like that but none that I can find with spherical spiny spores. The main groups that have such spores are Brittlegill (Russula), Milkcap (Lactarius) and Deceiver (Laccaria). It’s nothing like the first two but does have the general appearance of a Deceiver, except that none of those are white.

Mycena mirata is another small Bonnet mushroom but new to me. The Suede Boletes were growing in a cluster which is very unusual for Boletes. Turkeytail is maybe the most common fungus in the country but this was an attractive rosette. Plicatura crispa is a very interesting find. This species has been confined to Scotland and the north but is apparently travelling southwards. Online I found just one record in the south, from East Susses and it’s definitely this species, as the underside with forked folds is unmistakable. Oakbug Milkcap is very common and I see it often. Pelargonium Brittlegill is a rather speculative identification as I only found one specimen and didn’t pay enough attention to details such as taste and how much the cap will peel. But it’s a nice pinkish little thing! Orange Mosscap I also see often. Redlead Roundhead is a striking orange mushroom that I haven’t seen before. It’s thought to have come from abroad and now is becoming more common in woodchip mulch environments like this.


1. Mycena mirata.
Growing on rotting stick of broad leaved tree. Small group. Cap 0.5-0.8cm. Stem 1.5cm. Looks a bit paler than usual for this species but still probably a correct id. ID is fairly likely. Sporeprint White. Spores 7-9µ x 5-7µ.

2. Suede Bolete (Boletus subtomentosus).
Growing in parkland near oak. Small cluster and group. Cap 2.5-7cm. Stem 4cm. Slight, odd, indistinct smell. Difficult to distinguish between some of the boletes in the Xerocomus family but this id seems most likely. ID is best guess. Sporeprint Brown. Spores 10-14µ x 3-5.5µ.

3. Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor).
Growing on exposed tree root. Two rosettes. Rosette 7cm across. Sweet mushroomy smell.

4. Unidentified.
Growing from the end of a fallen twig. One single mushroom. Cap 2cm. Stem 3.5cm. No smell. This looks like Hydropus floccipes but the spore shape is wrong. H. floccipes has spherical spores which these are not! Nothing else comes close to being being right, so could this be another Hydropus species which isn't in my books? Sporeprint White. Spores 7-9.5µ x 4-5.5µ.

5. Plicatura crispa.
Growing on large rotting branch. Many in large groups. Bracket up to 2cm wide. No smell. This species has been confined to Scotland and the north but is apparently travelling southwards. Online I found one record in the south, from East Susses. It's definitely a correct id, as the underside with forked folds is unmistakable.

6. Oakbug Milkcap (Lactarius quietus).
Growing from earth amongst bracken near oak trees. Many scattered around singly. Cap 3.5-4.5cm. Stem 3.5-5cm. Slight indistinct musty smell. Milk mild and slightly nutty. ID is almost sure. Sporeprint White. Spores 6.5-8.5µ x 5.5-7.5µ.

7. Pelargonium Brittlegill (Russula pelargonia).
Growing on earth amongst bracken near oak trees. Just one. Cap 4cm. Stem 4cm. Fruity smell. Rather waterlogged, which may have washed out the colour. Speculative identification since it's hard to pinpoint with just one specimen. ID is possible.

8. Unidentified.
Growing in leaf litter near oak trees. Small group. Cap up to 2.5cm. Slight sweet smell. This is a mystery. There are several white mushroom species that look like this but none of them have the spiny round spores of these. The main groups that have such spores are Brittlegill (Russula), Milkcap (Lactarius) and Deceiver (Laccaria). It's nothing like the first two but does have the general appearance of a Deceiver except that none of the Deceivers are white?? Sporeprint White. Spores 6.5-8.5µ x 5.5-8µ.

9. Orange Mosscap (Rickenella fibula).
Growing in moss in grassy field. Many scattered around in the mossy patches. Cap up to 1cm. Stem up to 1.2cm. No smell. Sporeprint White. Spores 4.5-6.5µ x 2.5-4µ.

10. Redlead Roundhead (Leratiomyces ceres).
Growing in woodchip mulch. Several scattered in group. Cap 1.2-3cm. Stem up to 3cm. Faint indistinct smell. Sporeprint Purple brown. Spores 7.5-9.5µ x 6-7.5µ.