This being the first Fungal Foray to Foulness (as far as we are aware), we had no knowledge
of the fungal presence there, but guesses could be made when considering the habitats
existing in the island. It is mainly arable with grasslands varying from intensively farmed
to areas only mowed annually since the Second World War; the latter often producing the
most interesting fungi. A large number of trees were killed by the salt water floods of 1953
and the woodland is small in area and of mainly recently planted shelter belts.
Our party split into 4 groups, each chaperoned, to cover as much ground as possible in
the time available. It was exciting going into unknown territory and different from other
forays as we had to collect each and every different fungus that we could find, common
or otherwise, known or unknown. Sites visited included grassland, woodland, disused
farmyard and arable fields. We met back at the Museum at 1 o'clock for lunch and a
sharing of the morning's finds. Then it was off again to different areas, including the
churchyard (St Mary the Virgin is the only building on the island not owned by the
MOD), an old drover's road and the sea wall. Light rain started about 3.30pm, so back
to the Museum for a final sharing and writing of a list. Some specimens evaded full
identification and are recorded as Paneolus spp., Clitocybe sp., Hebeloma sp., Mycena
sp. and Pleurotus sp. A list was compiled of approximately 30 specimens which is hoped
will be increased as Tony Boniface, Martin Gregory and John Skinner took away species
for later identification. A complete list of species found will be sent to Peter Carr (Foulness
contact) when all identifications are completed.
Some of the species found included:
Arable fields
Volvariella gloiocephala
(formerly V. speciosa)
Grassland
Agaricus xanthoderma
A. campestris
A. subperonatus
Leucoagaricus leucothites
Lepista saeva
Hygrocybe chlorophana
H psittacina
H. quieta
H. virginea
Bolbitius vitellinus
Clavulinopsis luteoalba
Clavaria vermicularis
Vascellum pratense
Bovista plumbea
Enteloma sericeum
Clitocybe dealbata
Panaeolus semiovatus
Marasmius oreades
Coprinus comatus
British name
Stubble Rosegill (called Straw
Mushroom by local people)
Yellow Stainer
Field Mushroom
White Dapperling
Field Blewit
Golden Waxcap
Parrot Waxcap
Oily Waxcap
Snowy Waxcap
Yellow Fieldcap
Apricot Club
Meadow Puffball
Grey Puffball
Silky Pinkgill
Ivory Funnel
Fairy Ring Champignon
Shaggy Inkcap
large numbers of this impressive
fungi, easily seen from the car
Poisonous
Edible & excellent
Favours nitrogen rich soils
Favours rich soils, occasional
Pretty lilac stems, edible & excellent
Yellow and green varieties
Bright yellow
Common in lawns
Looks like small white table tennis
balls when young
Dark chocolate brown cap, common
Deadly poisonous
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 49, January 2006
27