Fungus Foray in Epping Forest on 20th September 2003 led by
Geoffrey Kibby
Tony Boniface 40 Pentland Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4AZ
On Saturday September 20th twelve hopeful people, mostly members of the Club,
gathered at the Warren for the EFC annual fungus foray in Epping Forest. Geoffrey
Kibby, the well-known expert mycologist, led the rest of us through a very hot and dry
forest, and we found rather little. Fortunately there was a group of assorted species
under the lime trees near the Warren, which included small specimens of White Fibrecap
Inocybe geophylla, the uncommon pale violet Cortinarius largus, Poisonpie Hebeloma
crustuliniforme, Glistening Inkcap Coprinus micaceus and one or two others on wood
such as Turkeytail Trametes versicolor. Further on were Coprinus aureocomus in grass
by the trees and then Hare'sfoot Inkcap Coprinus lagopus. Someone spotted a small
Beafsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica in a hollow Oak, and someone else saw an old
Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus. Geoff explained that these had both
been plentiful in July, but now were well past their best. Annette Ford found some
wood coloured green due to infection with Green Elfcup Chlorociboria aeruginascens,
though there were no fruitbodies. This attractively coloured wood was traditionally
used for inlaid work in Tunbridge Wells. In a clearing with a lot of fallen wood were
the glistening, white, jelly-like caps of Porcelain Fungus Oudemansiella mucida,
common in the Forest on Beech trees, and several beautiful fresh specimens of the
cream gilled bracket Pale Oyster Pleurotus pulmonarius.
An added delight was coining across a clearing in the forest where a wedding ceremony
was about to begin. We marvelled at the wondrous clothing worn by those taking part,
who appeared to be 'new-agers'. We did not stop, but this unscripted event did enliven
our day!
As we stopped for lunch, two young girls who were part of our group found two fungi
on the fallen tree they were sitting on. One was the bright yellow and uncommon Lion
Shield Pluteus leoninus, and the other the dark brown Deer Shield Pluteus cervinus.
Nearby was also a grey Willow Shield Pluteus salicinus. As we walked on, there were
some conspicuous mosses on the forest floor, particularly Polytrichum formosum and
Leucobryum glaucum Sorry! No English names for most of the mosses yet! This last
was very pretty, with its neat cushions of grey-blue-green spiky leaves. After tramping
on for some time, someone noticed a wonderful fresh growth of Shaggy Bracket Inonotus
hispidus, which usually grows high up on Ash trees. It is usually only discovered when
a soggy black mass lies on the ground having fallen off the Ash. These ones were in
splendid condition, with thick tousled rust-red tops, and yellowish pore layer below
which has a 'glance', i.e. appears different colours at difierent angles, and was oozing
a dark red juice which dripped on to the leaf litter below. Spread on the bark around it
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 43, January 2004
17