yellow and white with the growth of a mould, Apiocrea chrysosperma. As well as naming
the mould, Martin added three species of leaf rusts/smuts to the list. A specimen which
evaded specific identification was a lovely Scalycap Pholiota sp., found growing in the
cracked trunk of a large fallen ash tree. Last year, this ash was standing, still just alive,
and host to many interesting fungi. Over the coming years, its rotting wood will provide
a home for many more: a site to keep a watch on.
After collecting, we travelled the
short distance to EWT's
Hanningfield Reservoir Visitor
Centre to lay out and label
specimens. As hoped, members of
the public came up to see them and
talk to us. One of the first
comments from a male visitor was
"Which ones can I eat?", to which
Tony replied, "Well, I usually
choose the ones from the
supermarket". I am guessing that
this emphasis on eating them
comes from the media. Other
visitors, especially children, were
invited to smell the Aniseed
Funnel, a surprising experience for
them, and to handle some safe
species, like the Pestle Puffball
Handkea excipuliformis, and
Birch Polypore Piptoporus
betulinus.
On a work party at Crowsheath just What we have got © Jacquey Bunn
a week later, after more rain, some
gorgeous specimens of Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria were found by the warden and
myself, plus a large number of Clouded Agarics Clitocybe nebularis, one group in a ring
several metres across. Whilst cutting back bramble, a dead piece of aspen bearing an
attractive bracket came to light. This was the Birch Mazegill Lenzites betulinus, a species
regarded as infrequent/uncommon.
Upon returning home after the foray, I took a turn around my garden to enjoy the sunshine,
and watched the ivy in full bloom being taken advantage of by numerous wasps and
bees, two Peacock butterflies and a lone Hornet (see plate 9). A good day!
24 Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 49, January 2006