As any nature watcher knows,
fungi are very fickle subjects. One year there can be huge numbers of one species or
another, the following year none at all. 2102 was one of the worst seasons on
record for fungi, with reports of fungus forays being cancelled due to lack of
specimens. In contrast, 2013 must surely go down as one of the best, with warm
temperatures extending right into November, and
generally damp conditions – perfect for most fungi! There seemed to be fruiting bodies everywhere. In some of my
favourite locations I had to be careful where I stepped for fear of treading on
them! I found perfect photogenic specimens of many species, and several species
that were new to me. Although I am not a collector of “ticks” I do
try to improve my identification skills each year, not always easy, and I am always grateful to
friends for help. Reading the identification books sometimes leads to some
fascinating if worrying facts – for example, an Ink Cap (Coprinus
atarmentarius) is listed as edible, but “causing alarming symptoms when
consumed with alcohol!” Another species is listed as edible, but may turn
one’s urine red (but probably not to worry!!).
I’ve really been enjoying
photographing small details this autumn. Perhaps the most extraordinary I found
is the underside of the Earpick Fungus (Auriscalpium
vulgare), which is small, brown, and grows amongst brown leaves on buried
pine cones. The underside is covered in a mass of spore bearing spines rather
than gills. I’m sure I must have seen it before, but finding them in profusion
this year has been quite a revelation. The specimen shown here was
approximately 20mm across, requiring the full extension on my 60mm macro lens.
The Orange Peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia) is by no means rare,
but I found hundreds of large specimens along the side of a newly surfaced road
on a brief (very wet!) trip to Snowdonia a couple of weeks ago. They really are stunning, and well worth
searching for!
At the other end of the
“attraction” stakes are two tiny parasitic
“Piggyback” toadstools, the Silky piggyback (lower) Asterophora parasitica, and the Powdery Piggyback A. lycoperdoides (upper)
which grow only on the rotting fruitbodies of another toadstool: Russula sp. These were growing in the woods at the end of
my garden. I needed to use a long exposure in dim light, and additional light from a
small LED torch to get this image.
Although I only have a
provisional identification for this toadstool, The Blue Roundhead: (Stropharia caerulea) I couldn’t resist
showing this one. I found it at Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey last week, and had never
seen such a vivid blue toadstool before!
The Turkeytail (Coriolus versicolor) is one of our commonest
fungi, a bracket growing on fallen logs, often in great profusion. This
beautiful clump was on an old pine log in Snowdonia.
Although there is a specific
Fairy Ring toadstool, many species grow in rings, as the mycelia spread out in
all directions from a central point, like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. I
found this ring of Spotted Toughshank (Collybia maculata) growing amongst Pines
in a local wood in Surrey. I used a wide angle lens to include the habitat in
this shot on a very dull, rainy day.
A very rare fungus that I
have only seen once before is the Coral Tooth
(Hericium coralloides). I was
given directions to this specimen growing in Richmond Park. Although past its
best it was still an impressive and beautiful sight! Apparently, in previous years, it has been
picked by collectors.
At the time of writing this, on the 1st November we still haven't had a frost, meaning that the fungi should persist for some time yet, and I will keep looking for different subjects!
My two “bibles” for
identification are Roger Phillips’ “Mushrooms”, and the “Collins Guide to
British Mushrooms and Toadstools” by Paul Sterry, and my friend Barry Hughes. A
fascinating personal account of Fungi is “Mushrooms” by Peter Marren, full of
wonderful anecdotes and facts.
Postscript
I found a lovely Parrot
Waxcap on the lawn this morning, and was about to photograph it when our new
puppy trod on it!
