Fungal Foray in Roudsea Woods
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Sunday 27th September 2009 by Sue Roberts
Sunday promised to be a lovely, pearly sort of day as nine members of the group set off from Roudsea Woods’s car park for a fungal foray led by John and Sheila Weir.
John and Sheila commented that following a wet summer, fewer fungi might be seen. As Natural England boasts that over 280 species grow in their wood, then even if only a small proportion of that number were to be seen, it would prove to be an interesting day.
Roudsea Wood is especially varied, lying as it does on two ridges of contrasting rock, limestone and slate. These support very different communities of plants and animals as well as fungi. On the limestone, the woodland is dominated by oak, lime, ash and hazel, whilst on the slate, oak, birch and rowan predominate. Consequently a large variety of fungal species associated with specific tree species flourish.
As we set off up the track into the woods, a skein of about a hundred geese could be seen in the sky, a sure sign that autumn is well and truly here.
The first of over 30 species spotted over the course of the walk was Scleroderma citrinum, the Common Earthball, found atop a mossy acidic stump.
We came across this species throughout the walk. Many of the species encountered were associated with specific tree species, for instance, Inonotus radiatus is an Alder Bracket with a velvety upper surface that ‘weeps’ as it matures. The pores are angled to provide a greater surface area for spore dispersal. Then there was Daedaleopsis confragosa, Blushing Bracket, found on Willow and the versatile Piptoporus betulinus, a Birch polypore with the common name Razor Strop Fungus. As its common name implies, this fungus is excellent for sharpening blades due to its extremely hard texture when mature. I have it on very good authority from ‘bushwhackers’ that it also makes wonderful tinder and can be used to dress wounds (I think I’ll stick to the Elastoplast!). In addition, the smoke from burning Razor Strop keeps insects at bay, so all in all, a very useful fungus to have around when stuck out in the wilds with no sign of Ray Mears to give you a helping hand!
One of the many highlights of the walk was the discovery of a very rare fungus – Cortinarius praestans, the Goliath Webcap(pictured below), which, other than Roudsea, can only be found at two other sites, in Worcester and North Somerset. As its name suggests, it is a very large fungus indeed with a cap measuring up to 30cm in diameter. The specimens found were very large and quite ragged-looking.
Below is a photograph taken by Barbara Crooks.
The Goliath Webcap Cortinarius praestans
Other rare species included Lactarius lilacina, a member of the Milk Cap fungi.
John and Sheila’s extensive knowledge on the subject made for a very interesting day and I think I speak for all present when I say that we came away from Roudsea Woods knowing quite a good deal more about the world of Fungi than when we arrived. On behalf of the group I would like to thank John and Sheila for organising and leading the event.
List of Species found in Roudsea Woods -27th September, 2009. Identified and forwarded by John and Sheila Weir.
- Scleroderma citrinum
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Common Earthball
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- Keuhneromyces mutabilis
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Sheathed Woodtuft
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- Cortinarius anomalus
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Variable Webcap
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- Trametes versicolor
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Turkey tail
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- Tricholoma stypariphyllum
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White Knight
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- Lycoperdon pyriforme
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Puffball
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- Lacterius torminosus
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Woolly Milkcap
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- Hydrum repandum
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Hedgehog Fungus
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- Hebaloma leucosarx
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Poison Pie
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- Inonotus radiatus
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Alder Bracket
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- Amanita muscaria
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Fly Agaric
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- Daedaleopsis confragosa
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Blushing Bracket
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- Tricholoma fulvum
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Birch Knight Cap
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- Pleurotus ostreatus
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Oyster Fungus
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- Piptoporus betulinus
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Razor Strop Fungus
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- Hypholoma fasciculare
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Sulphur Tuft
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- Cortinarius praestans
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Goliath Webcap
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- Leccinum scabrum
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Brown Birch Bolete
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- Armillaria mellea
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Honey Fungus
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- Amanita olivaceogrisea
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- Naucoria subconspersa
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Aldercap
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- Russula ochroleuca
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Common Yellow
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- Clitocybe clavipes
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Club-footed Funnel Cap
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- Stereum hirsutum
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Hairy Curtain Crust
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- Amanita spissa
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False Panther Cap
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- Daedalea quercina
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Oak Maze-gill
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- Russula betularum
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Birch Brittlegill
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- Collybia butyracea
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Butter Cap
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29. Russula nigricans
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Blackening Brittlegill
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30. Paxillus involutus
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Brown Roll-rim
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31. Lactarius lilacina
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Lilac Milkcap
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