The Fungi Of Some Essex Churchyards In
The Vicinity Of Chelmsford 1993-1994.
A D Boniface
Knowledge of the fungus flora of Essex is mainly confined to Epping Forest,
which has been researched over many years. Consequently the remainder
of Essex offers considerable scope for recording. Many churchyards
provide habitats which have been undisturbed for a long period of time. They
also contain unusual species of trees and sometimes of herbaceous and
shrubby flowering plants. Their scattered distribution and easy location
makes them suitable for a wide- ranging survey.
The absence of an up-to-date check-list of British fungi complicates the
identification process. Indeed some genera are still a matter of research as
to the precise species that actually exist. Changes in nomenclature
frequently occur, and identification requires a wide range of keys,
descriptions and illustrations. In this survey the genera were mainly decided
using the introduction to the British Fungus Flora ( 1 ) and Moser's Keys to
Agarics and Boleti ( 7 ).
During this initial survey I acquired a new source of keys and descriptions
(Nordic Macromycetes Volume 2 (20)) which will be of considerable value
in future years. Microscopic and macroscopic features were used to identify
the specimens, and in five cases confirmation was obtained from Brian
Spooner, Principal Scientific Officer at Kew. These were Lepista luscina,
Dermoloma cuneifolium, Melanoleuca grammopodia, Entoloma plebejum
and Hygrocybe subglobispora.
To obtain a more complete sample of fungi present, visits should be made
throughout the year, especially in the autumn, for several seasons. The
same fungi may not occur every year; other species may appear after many
years' absence, depending on climatic conditions and other, as yet ,
unknown factors.
This paper is intended as the first in a long-term project. Other mycologists
may wish to survey their local churchyards in order to widen the information
obtained.
39