Some less common species came to light, including the Fragrant Funnel Clitocybe
fragrans, Sweet Poisonpie Hebeloma sacchariolens, Grooved Bonnet Mycena
polygramma, and the Shaggy Scalycap Pholiota squarrosa. A clump of Puffballs were
seen bursting through the rotten wood of a very old Hornbeam log (see Plate 10), leading
us to believe it was a wood-loving species, but in fact it keyed out to be the Soft Puffball
Lycoperdon molle, which grows on soil. Graham Smith (the EFC identifier) concluded
that this (infrequently found) puffball was growing from the soil under the log.
The aptly named Funeral Bell Galerina marginata was also found ; this is listed as
deadly poisonous. Also poisonous is the Chicken Run Funnel Clitocybe phaeophthalma,
given the common name because apparently it smells like a chicken coop. The various
smells given in the books under the description for each species are (in my personal
experience) often hard to detect, or, if a smell is detected, hard to put a name to. One
needs the nose of a wine connoisseur.
Lunchtime arrived and some people departed, leaving 4 EFC members to sit and enjoy
lunch under the trees. As these were Sweet Chestnut we were a little wary, as one of our
number, Graham Price, had been painfully hit on the head by a falling prickly chestnut
during the morning (drawing blood!). We chose different paths for the afternoon, finding
a small patch of Grey Coral Clavulina cinerea at the path side, one red Brittlegill Russula
sylvestris, Leopard Earthball Scleroderma areolatum, Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria,
and Peppery Milkcap Lactarius piperatus amongst others. The Stinkhorn Phallus
impudicus was scented on the air but not seen - a frequent occurrence.
As usual, we ranged off the paths, investigating likely-looking stacks of wood and hidden
areas. Claudi Soler came back bearing the prize of the day - Common Earthball parasitized
by the Parasitic Bolete Pseudoboletus parasiticus (see Plate 11). This is listed as scarce to
rare in some books, other sources say occasional but widespread: nevertheless, a very
good find! Two species were 'firsts' for Graham and pleasing to identify - the Golden
Scalycap Pholiota aurivella, and the White Domecap Lyophyllum connatum. We saw an
interesting-looking clump of fungi growing out of the trunk of a fallen and lodged Birch.
As this was at an angle of 45° and the fungi were more than halfway up the trunk (which
was probably rather rotten), we decided to be sensible, look at it through the monocular
and call it a Pholiota sp.
Another enjoyable fungal foray, enhanced by sunshine and good company. Many thanks
to those who came along, and especially Graham Smith for the identifying. And not only
fungi to find, but some lovely ferns, the Soft Shield Fern Polystichum setiferum, big
clumps of Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas, and an exquisite plant of Lady Fern Athyrium
filix-femina. In bloom were plants of Red Campion Silene dioica and Climbing Corydalis
Ceratocapnos claviculata. Amongst the many tree species present, the warden
particularly pointed out a Wild Pear Pyrus communis and some Gean or Wild Cherry
Prunus avium. A lovely woodland, well worth future visits.
22
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 58, January 2009