The churchyards visited provided a range of habitats from coniferous and
deciduous woodlands to unimproved grassland. Initially fungi were collected
during the period 22 September to 16 November 1993. Twenty nine
churchyards were sampled on varying numbers of occasions, producing fifty
seven species.
Sixteen of the locations provided a haven for at least one species of wax
cap. Ten species of wax cap were found including a Red Data
Species, (Hygrocybe calyptraeformis) which was recorded from Little Leighs.
The most widely spread species was the Snowy Wax Cap, (Hygrocybe
virginea,) which occurred in fifteen of the locations. Little Leighs provided
seven species of wax caps, and Danbury five. Fryerning had four species
including a late one associated with pine trees called the Winter Wax Cap,
(Hygrophorus hypothejus), Terling also produced four species.
Another widely spread group were the Agarics. Seven churchyards provided
specimens of the Yellow Staining Mushroom (A. xanthoderma). A. silvaticus
occurred in two and a rare fungus which I identified as A. pseudopratensis
var niveus was found at Broomfield. This turned yellow at the base of the
stipe on cutting and the yellow area then turned reddish brown instead of
fading as it does in A. xanthoderma.
Five species of Lepista were located. The most widely spread species was
the Wood Blewit (L. nuda), occurring in six churchyards with the Field Blewit
(L. personata) occurring in four. More unusual species were L. sordida in two
locations and L. lusina at Boreham.
The only bolete found was Xerocomus chrysenteron which was recorded in
five locations. Also in five churchyards was one of the parasol mushrooms
called Lepiota rhacodes. Two Stropharia species occurred commonly, with
S.pseudocyanea in five sites and S. inuncta also in five.
Dunbury was the only churchyard which provided any Amanita species
including the beautiful orange one called A. crocea, which was growing
under a birch tree. This species is rare in southern Britain.
Large clumps of Psathyrella multipedata were found in Great Leighs and
Writtle, this is described as rare in the literature. Another interesting find in
Essex, because conifers are infrequent, was the bracket fungus Phaeolus
schweinitzii growing under a Larch in Galleywood Churchyard. A pine tree in
Fyfield harboured a specimen of Lactarius hepaticus some distance away.
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