Fungi from Hylands Park
Tony Boniface
Recorders : Tony Boniface, Steven Wilkinson, M.W.Hanson
Records : 2000 - 2002
Hylands Park provides a variety of habitats for fungi ranging from ancient woodland, plantation,
dead wood, rough grassland, mown lawns, and flower beds.
Bracket fungi on living and dead trees arc well represented:-
Inonotus dryadeus Oak Bracket is found near the base of mature oaks often covered in golden
drops.
Ganoderma resinaceum has a lacquered surface and greyish-white pores.
Ganoderma australe (=adspersum) Southern Bracket has a large perennial fruiting body.
Meripilus giganteus Giant Polypore has numerous fan-shaped outgrowths which slowly turnblack
when bruised.
Fistulina hepatica Poor Man's Beefsteak exudes a red liquid.
Polyporus squamosus Dryad's Saddle forms thin, large, scaly brackets early in the season.
Daedaleopsis confragosa Blushing Bracket has a pore surface which turns reddish when bruised.
Laetiporus sulphureus Chicken of the Woods has large orange-yellow fruiting bodies.
Piptoporus betulinus Birch Polypore has been used to strop razors and as tinder.
Trametes versicolor Turkey-tail Bracket has a multibanded upper surface.
Stereum hirsutum Hairy Crust has a smooth fertile surface without gills, tubes or teeth.
Auricularia auricula-judae Wood Ear is a gelatinous fungus usually found on elder.
Auricularia mesenterica Tripe Crust has a irregularly wrinkled lower surface.
*Daedalea quercina Oak Maze-gill has maze-like pores on the under surface.
Inonotus hispidus Shaggy Bracket has a hairy to bristly upper surface.
*Bjerkandera adusta Smoky Bracket has dark grey pores.
*Pleurotus cornucopiae Branched Oyster has gills which branch and form a network over the top
of the stem.
*Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Fungus has a pink to violaceous colour.
*Polyporus durus Bay Polypore has a white, cream or tan upper surface.
*Po/yporus leptocephalus Blackfoot Polypore has a dark brown to bay upper surface.
*Hohenbuehelia geogenia has a tongue to funnel-shaped cap split down one side with decurrent
gills down an excentric stem.
*Pleurotus dryinus Veiled Oyster has a ring on the stem when young.
It is important to leave dead trunks and branches in situ to enable lignicolous species to establish
themselves. Such species include:-
Pluteus cervinus Deer Shield has pink spores.
Xylaria hypoxylon Candle Snuff Fungus is very common.
Gymnopilus penetrans Common Rustgill has an orange brown cap and, sometimes a scented smell.
Gymnopilus junonius Juno's Rustgill is also known as the great big laughing Gymnopilus.
Exidia glandulosa Witches' Butter has jelly-like fruiting bodies.
Mycena inclinata Clustered Bonnet occurs in dense tufts.
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Essex Parks: Section 2 - Hylands Park