The fungi of Fryerning Churchyard, 2002 update
GRAHAM SMITH
48 The Meads, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 OAE
For those of us interested in natural history in Essex the weather in 2002 often seemed to work
against us. Just when one wanted some rain - at the start of the fungi foraying season - the heavens
clammed up and barely a drop fell for nearly three months. This produced a wonderful 'Indian
Summer' for ramblers but a very poor one for naturalists as there were few insects and even fewer
fungi to enjoy during walks in the countryside. At Fryerning the late spring drizzle produced one or
two interesting fungi, as did the occasional downpour in August, but from that time onwards, until
well into November, there were virtually no agarics at all. They continued to sulk during the subsequent
deluge and exceptionally mild temperatures in the last two months of the year. For instance, not a
single fruiting body of Hygrocybe calyptriformis appeared this year, compared with over fifty in
2001. A few of the commoner wax-caps did put on a bravura display in the final few weeks of the
year, however, and at least five species were still on show on the opening day of 2003. They -
together with a run of 'little brown jobs' and one or two interesting larger agarics - helped redeem
the situation and made for a few interesting forays in the weeks leading up to Christinas.
As in my original article in the 2001 /02 Essex Naturalist, the nomenclature of the following systematic
list is that found in Hansen & Knudsen (1992, 1997) but is in alphabetical order for ease of access.
I am again grateful to Tony Boniface for reading through and commenting on these few notes.
Agaricus impudicus (= variegans); a moderate sized species with a distinctive bulbous stem and a
dark brown cap centre, ringed with scattered fibrillosc scales of the same colour. A group of five
were found under pines on 23TdNovember.
Auriscalpium vulgare: Ear-pick Fungus. Tried it. Doesn't work! A tooth fungi that grows on pine
cones. Several were found on those of Corsican Pine on 23rd November.
Boletus erythopus: a single large specimen was found under birch on 15th June; surprisingly my first
record for this widespread species in the area as a whole.
Clitocybe nebularis: a troop of around a dozen appeared under birch and various shrubs in December.
Clitocybe obsoleta: several found under pines on 23rd November.
Collybia fusipes: growing on buried roots of birch on 1st December
Coprinus auricomus: a small group of this fragile, brown capped species were found in damp
grassland on 13th May.
Cortinarius decipiens: virtually the only member of this huge family to occur in this corner of Essex
and unlike many of the others a disappointingly dreary shade of brown. 5-6 under birch on 23rd
November.
Cystoderma aminanthinum: a beautiful species with a bright orange-russet cap trimmed with pale
veil remnants, creamy gills, and a fleecy, pale orange stem, that is normally associated with acid
heathland. It apparently has a strong musty smell, something lost on my insensitive nose, but I was
reliably informed later that they stank the house out for three days after I left them unattended on the
draining-board for a few hours on returning home! A single large cluster was found growing in moss
along one of the paths on 1st December.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
229