was the lemon-yellow, slightly fluorescent, dusting of spores. To add further delight,
the host tree was not the usual Ash but the uncommon Wild Service-tree. Geoff declared
he had never seen such wonderful examples, and several people took pictures, including
my husband see photo.
A very tired and over-heated group returned to the Warren at about 2:15. Although the
fungi were few, most people had seen at least one they had not seen before. A big
"thank you' to Geoff for leading us on such an enjoyable foray, even though we saw not
one of his favourite Brittlegills Russulae!
Fungus Foray at Davy Down on 18th October 2003
Mary Smith 33 Gaynes Park Road, Upminster, Essex RM14 2HJ
Sixteen people, all members of our affiliated organisation the Thurrock Wildlife Society,
assembled by the pumping station at Davy Down on 18th October. It was a beautiful,
bright autumn day, with rock-hard ground due to many weeks of drought behind us.
The fungi were very limited, but we found something to interest everyone. The group
was led by Steve Mitchell, Davy Down Ranger, and Mary Smith of the Essex Field
Club.
First, on the southern banks above the Mardyke near the sarsen stones, in TQ5879, Jill
Ireland found one Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris, the first fungus of the day.
How to distinguish an edible Mushroom Agaricus spp. from the dangerous Yellow
Stainer Agaricus xanthoderma was explained.
We all looked at the Sarsen stones, and Steve told us how they were formed and the
way these ones were special because of their excellent glurps the typical curved
mouldings which indicated recent disturbance after about 20 million years in the ground.
On the northern bank was Brannetts Wood, and various people found:
Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea, s.s. Not only the fruitbodies, but also the black
bootlace-like 'roots' rhizomorphs were admired.
Giant Puffball Calvatia gigantea Several were found on the lower slopes; all but one
were brown and fluffy but still full of spores. Their sizes were small because of the
drought.
Glistening Inkcap Coprinus micaceus, in little clusters on old buried wood.
Southern Bracket Ganoderma australe =adspersum, several rusty red-brown from a
dusting of the spores brackets on an old fallen tree. The whitish tube layer went
dark brown when bruised.
Stump Puffball Lycoperdon pyriforme, pear-shaped puffballs in good condition, clustered
on a stump.
18 Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 43, January 2004