Dunmere Woods, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall - 27th August 2018

This site is mostly Forestry Commission land with areas available for public access halfway between Wadebridge and Bodmin. As soon as I had entered the site I came across quite a few Boletus species which were accompanied by mushrooms covered in a thick yellow or powdery dust, something I have not seen before. This I identified later as being Hypomyces chrysospermus, a parasitic fungus that grows only on boletes. Fairly common apparently but a first for me. A forest area consisting mostly of spruce was carpeted with 100's of False Chanterelle across the forest floor although not much else was found. A few 'The Flirt's' were found here and there in singles, also new to me and as I edged towards more traditional Beech and Oak trees I came upon a remarkable looking Russula. This transpired later as being Russula virescens or Greenbacked Brittlegill. This shows a mosaic pattern on the cap and can be seen here in the photo. Uncommon, but widespread I found only five previous records for Cornwall, so a nice find and obviously new to me again. On re-entering spruce forest not a great many species were showing. An immature 'The Blusher' appeared before I came across an Amanita sps which I felt transpired to be the less common Grey-veiled Amanita. It was growing alongside a seldom used pathway with a young Amanita patherina, or the deadly poisonous Panthercap. See pic.

Russula virescens - Greenbacked Brittlegill
(Very uncommon and 6th record for Cornwall)

Hygroporopsis aurantica - False Chanterelle
A beautiful example of the gill structure of a larger example.

Hypomyces chrysospermus -
a parasitic dusting fungus mould in its yellow form

Hypomyces chrysospermus -
in its white form on boletes.

Clitocybe phyllophila - Frosty Funnel in its early stages.

Amanita porphyria - Grey-veiled Amanita (Uncommon)

Postia tephroleuca - Grayling Bracket

Russula vesca - The Flirt

Marasmiellus ramealis - Twig Parachute

Trevellion Woods, west of Mousehole, Cornwall - 24th August 2018

To avoid shopping I managed to escape for an hour to what I perceived to be the nearest accessible woodland near Penzance. I wasn't disappointed except for the time I had to spend there otherwise the shopping would have been left for the specialist seagull Penzance Pirates scavengers and a very unhappy wife. Started well up the northern track and gravel road where I found a few Boletes close together but of different species. Here parkland adjoins mixed woodland with lots of Hazel, some Beech and Oak, and one amazing Maple that had fallen across a stream producing a monstrous fungi species as seen here. Well worth a much longer visit especially the real public footpath from the west end that straddles the stream NE. 

Boletus porosporus - Sepia Bolete

Xerocumus subtomentosus - Suede Bolete (large example being 12 cms)

Tyromyces chioneus - Unusual bracket often missed as anything but this species.

Xerocumus cisalpinus - found alongside road but in parkland setting. Note reddening under skin of cap

Laetiporous sulphureus - Chicken-of-the Woods probably! Not much else can be this size, largest bracket form I have seen. On Maple over stream had something to do with this no doubt.

Redlake Cottage Meadow NR, Lostwithiel, Cornwall - 16th August 2018

Following weeks of drought across the country the skies opened and wet stuff appeared for quite a few days before and thought it was a good time to look at a wet heath land site, one where I could also see wild flowers. Redlake Meadows isn't visited often and I soon found out why, however the overall trip was very satisfactory and also seeing one of the counties rarest flowers in Heath Lobelia - eventually. Firstly, the Cornwall Wildlife site promotes access from the south, which is almost impossible to find and to navigate to the access point. I went north as I was't too much interested in flora as I was in woodland and wet soil which I found by entering the site from the north at GR SX1293 5915. Here you walk due south through an oak and hazel canopy before entering a wet heath land, only one of ten in the country with this type of habitat. Once you are pass the quite friendly but skittish wild ponies, I pushed on further south into more woodland due SW. Here more species were erupting and freshly showed. Through exploring the different terrain I went across and uphill to where a gigantic very old dead oak tree lay. Not knowing what could be here I came upon what I thought at the time a fungi with very unusual markings. I dug dip on my return and followed this through with the help of my membership of the Cornwall Fungi Recording Group (CFRG) to see what this could be. I had already recorded four species of Russula and four Boletes along with some interesting resupinates. The site is difficult to navigate, the woodlands are full of low lying branches and very wet. Nothing wrong with that as exactly the conditions I wanted but unless fit I doubt others would enjoy the experience. I doubt they will find the entrance anyway! The mystery fungus turned out to be a possible first for Cornwall in Simocybe sumptuosa, thanks to the help of Pauline Penna (CFRG) for ID confirmation. An unusual Myxomycete was also found on a poroid resupinate which is also being investigated. 

Simocybe sumptuosa (1st record for Cornwall - TBC)

Simocybe sumptuosa spore print

Simocybe sumptuosa showing eccentric gills

Russula gracillima - Slender Brittlegill  (Uncommon)

Russula gracillima gills and stem

Pluteus salicinus - Willow Shield

Boletus rubellus - Ruby Bolete

Leccinum pseudoscabrum - Hazel Bolete

Leccinum scabrum - Brown Birch Bolete

Tubaria conspera - Felted Twiglet

Boletus subtomentosus - Suede Bolete

Mycena galopus var. candida - Milking Bonnet

Myxomycetes on poroid resupinate TBC

Magnified image of spiral capillitium of previous myxomycete

Hawkes Wood, Nr Wadebridge, Cornwall Sunday 5th August 2018

I visited this Cornwall Wildlife Trust site as part of a Cornwall Fungi Recording Group event. Unfortunately the leader and myself were the only participants, whether that was to do with the recent drought indicating it wouldn't be a great foray or it was just bad timing for most. The site is difficult to access, with very limited parking near the site and none at the entrance as it shares a it with residential location.  Still once we had walked to the entrance we proceeded to follow the stream due SE, which had a good level water, so brightened up our hopes. We came across a very nice young Beefsteak bracket (Fistulina hepatica) under an oak tree by the side of the path but after what was the highlight of the visit. Pauline picked out three very small Gallerina type looking fungi growing on rotting wood. This turned out to be the exceedingly rare Flammulaster muricatus having been confirmed by KewG. Probably a first for Cornwall, which is being checked. 

In addition, some uncommon resupinates were also found with Thanatephorus fusiporous, Annulohypoxylon minutellum and Ceraceomyces serpens, also known as C. crispatus. This is also very uncommon and rarely seen. Other more common species are illustrated. This is now my nearest nature reserve to Wadebridge, Cornwall where I now live and so is one I will visit again in future often. When wetter and later in the season it should produce a great deal more very interesting fungi species in this special ancient oak woodland.

Fistulina hepatica (Beefsteak Fungus)

Flammulaster muricatus ((status V/B - very rare)

Flammulaster muricatus ((status V/B - very rare)

Ceraceomyces serpens (crispatus)

Nectria peziza

Psathyrella candolleana (Pale Brittlestem)