Crab Wood
Sat 18 Dec 2021
Field event ID HF2133
OS Grid areas: SU4329
Report: It was a dry and mild day with sunny spells as we convened for the traditional final foray of the year. Once again, there was an encouraging number of members present.
After early finds of Heterobasidion annosum (Root Rot) and Hymenochaete rubiginosa (Oak Curtain Crust) we came across an unidentified Hygrophorus (woodwax) species with a yellowish cap. The usual scattering of Mycena (bonnets) were found including M. pura (Lilac Bonnet), M. speirea (Bark Bonnet), M. haematopus (Burgundydrop Bonnet) and M. tenerrima (Frosty Bonnet).
A couple of years ago a new resupinate species for Britain was found on a beech log in the wood. Although the log was still there, there was no sign of the fungus on this occasion, but another white crust was taken from it and proved to be Trechispora confinis.
We were then puzzled by a mass of tiny orange spherical fungi on the split stem of honeysuckle. It was later confirmed as Sphaerobolus stellatus (Shooting Star or Cannonball Fungus) but all the spore capsules had long-since been expelled.
Next up, some fine examples of the ascomycetes, Bisporella citrina (Lemon Disco) and B. sulfurina (Sulphur Disco) were seen followed by Hymenochaete corrugata (Glue Crust) and two fruiting bodies of Tremella foliacea (Leafy Brain), though they had seen better days.
A fine clump of Flammulina velutipes (Velvet Shank) and a Pluteus cervinus (Deer Shield) were found before we adjourned for lunch which included a fine array of seasonal goodies brought by everyone!
On our walk back to the car-park, a final noteworthy find was a striking, poroid crust fungus (on holly), which had rufous, tooth-like pores. A group of picturesque Hemimycena tortuosa (Dewdrop Bonnet) was also seen.
It had been a very sociable and enjoyable end to the season.
Species recorded: Ascocoryne cylichnium, Bisporella citrina, Bisporella sulfurina, Bjerkandera adusta, Bulgaria inquinans, Byssomerulius corium, Calocera cornea, Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Crepidotus cesatii, Crepidotus luteolus, Cylindrobasidium laeve, Daldinia concentrica, Flammulina velutipes var. velutipes, Fuscoporia ferrea, Galerina marginata, Heterobasidion annosum, Hymenochaete corrugata, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Lachnum virgineum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Lycoperdon pyriforme, Marasmius bulliardii, Mycena arcangeliana, Mycena capillaris, Mycena galericulata, Mycena haematopus, Mycena pura, Mycena speirea, Mycena tenerrima, Panellus stipticus, Phlebia radiata, Phlebia tremellosa, Phlebiella sulphurea, Piptoporus betulinus, Pluteus cervinus, Radulomyces molaris, Schizopora paradoxa, Schizopora radula, Skeletocutis semipileata, Skeletocutis vulgaris, Steccherinum ochraceum, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum subtomentosum, Subulicystidium longisporum, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes versicolor, Trechispora confinis, Tremella foliacea, Tremella mesenterica, Tubaria furfuracea, Xylaria hypoxylon
A full species list with further details can be seen at the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland (FRDBI). Please contact us if you need a user ID.