REPORTS OF MEETINGS 93
FUNGUS FORAY IN EPPING FOREST (879th Meeting)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 1947
Some twenty-five members met at Loughton Garage at 11 a.m. and
entered the Forest by way of Baldwin's Hill.
On account of the dry state of the ground after the summer drought
few fungi were visible to the casual observer, and a route was chosen along
the stream between Little and Great Monk Wood so that advantage might
be taken of the moist situations to be found there.
Members soon settled down to search carefully for the inconspicuous
fungi and Mycetozoa in likely places, and before long baskets began to be
filled with such specimens and some of the more conspicuous forms to be
found growing on tree trunks. The day was warm and the sun came out
during the break for lunch which was taken in Great Monk Wood.
Thence the route lay past Wake Valley Pond, westwards to the top of
Honey Lane and then on to the Duke of Wellington Inn at High Beach.
An interesting instance of abcission of the branches in an oak was noticed,
several hundred small branches from which the leaves had not yet fallen
being strewn on the ground beneath a large tree. A Clouded Yellow butter-
fly was seen on the wing and a fully-fed larva of the Pale Tussock moth was
taken.
On arrival at the inn the specimens collected were laid out and named
by Professor Ingold, Dr. Gregory, Miss Lister and Mr. Ross. The display
was surprisingly good considering the dry condition of the Forest and,
thanks to the presence of the experts, it was possible to determine several
of the lesser-known small species.
After members had spent some time in examining the specimens, tea
was served and on its conclusion the President, Dr. Jane, tendered the thanks
of the Club to our visitors, Professor Ingold and Dr. Gregory, for their
kind assistance during the day. He said that all were very pleased that
Miss Lister had been able to attend, and thanked Miss Hilbert for her work
in organising a very successful and pleasant excursion.
During the day forty-seven species of fungus were collected. The
following are not included in A. A. Pearson's List of the Fungi of Epping
Forest, 1938:—Polyporus frondosus, Peziza auranti, Lachnea cretea,
Xylaria hypoxylon, Hypoxylon Xylaria, Claviceps purpurea, Mycaena
haematopoda, Microsphaera alphitoides (Oak mildew, see Notes and
Observations), Melampsoridium betulinum (Rust on birch), Stegia ilicis
(black bodies on holly leaves), Diatrype disciformis (black fungus on bark).
Sixteen species of Mycetozoa were collected and were determined by
Miss Lister and Mr. Ross.
ORDINARY MEETING (880th Meeting)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 1947
This meeting was held at the Municipal College, Stratford, at 3 p.m.,
with the President in the chair. Twenty-four members attended.
The following were elected to membership :—
Miss Eunice S. L. Jones, M.Sc., of the West Ham Municipal College.
Mr. James W. Dyce, of 4, Mayfair Gardens, Woodford Green.
Mr. Wilfred Justus Foster, LL.B., of "Steps End," 31, Hillcrest Road,
Loughton.
Mr. Robert W. Lee, of 11, Greenway Avenue, E.17.
Lieut.-Col. A. R. Solly, of Little Greys, Kelvedon.
The meeting was devoted to exhibits by members.
Mrs. Pratt showed two of her water-colour drawings, one of a cornfield
in the Roothings and one of an elaborate stone ornament in the grounds
of Copt Hall.