Dunmere Woods, Nr. Wadebridge, Cornwall - 21st September 2018

After a few rain storms in the previous days I decided to revisit this local site once again, this time approaching from the northerly entrance off the main road to Bodmin. Almost all Beech until you walk further and come across a small section of spruce although not very productive. Russula ochroleuca was everywhere but I did run into a single isolated patch of a new Brittlegill for me in Russula densifolia or Crowded Brittlegill. Inspecting a stack of loosely heaped old branches, which looked as though they hadn't been touched for years I was pleasantly surprised to find a very odd fungus, discovering later this to be a new slime mold for me in Stemonitis fusca. These showed a unique structure like groups of tubular bells with very thin hairline stems, see photo. Amazing through the hand lens. Beechwood Sickeners were common and one or two Amanitas with A. citrina var citrina being seen mostly. Normally your head is down looking for ground swelling fungi but somehow my eyes were diverted to a delightful minute mycena species growing on the edge of loose bark and moss on the side of a tree. Never thought I would see a Bonnet this high. This turned out to be Mycena pseudocorticola. A nice rosette of Trametes gibbosa was found on the top of a flat beech stump followed by picking up from the litter atop a small twig an unusual looking bracket, or so it seemed. It showed a surprising slit pores structure underneath with the top very velvety and soft, same for the pores as though stroking a cat. Pulling all these IDs together and having no smell or foot it became Blueing Bracket or Postia subcaesia.
I found a very small Gallerina species near a back yard facing onto the woodland that showed a very nice white ring. Hoping this was something a little special on checking back home this turned out to be a very early but common Gallerina marginata or Funeral Bell. I felt a little peckish at the time but still held off gulping this down raw as it would probably be the last mushroom I ever saw! So once again a few hours of detective work produces some new species for me and possibly Cornwall and the South West. 

Postia subcaesia - Blueing Bracket

Postia subcaesia - showing pore structure

Mycena pseudocorticola - on tree bark with moss

Russula densifolia - Crowded Brittlegill

Stemonitis fusca - a slime mold but with
very unusual tubular structures

Stemonitis fusca - a grouping showing the
tubular nature of each group.

Tremetes gibbosa - Lumpy Bracket rosette on flat beech stump

Gallerina marginata - Funeral Bell - note the
large whitish ring on a specimen that
was only 2 cms in length.

Woodland site, Nr Wadebridge - 11th September 2018

I decided to revisit an ancient woodland site once again as it is becoming my local patch being so close to home and I wouldn't be disappointed. I haven't promoted the site as I was fortunate to find a rare Pluteus mushroom and probably only the 6th record for Cornwall. I didn't collect the solo specimen and so hopefully will emerge again in the future and I find it unnecessary to pull everything when it is evident what the fungi actually is. This was Pluteus aurantiorugosus, a small but brilliant red/yellow species that literally shone out from beneath a large stump, probably an old Elm tree as this is the key substrate for this type. The Pluteus isn't aflame, suggesting its English name is very appropriate (as seen in the photograph) but a slug or other insect must have eaten this part away. Picked up one or two other species also along the way including one that I was unable to ID. Any suggestions?

Pluteus aurantiorugosus - Flame Shield

Pluteus aurantiorugosus - Flame Shield

Lactarius vietus - Grey Milkcap

Lactarius vietus - Grey Milkcap

Mystery agaric on leaf litter/debris near Oak

Underside of mystery specimen showing fairly
distant gills with a ring and lower stipe getting darker.
Any suggestions please comment below!

Bulgaria inquinans - Black Bulgar

Grenoven Woods, Devon borders Tamar - 2nd September 2018

I joined the Devon Fungus Group in a joint venture with Cornwall RFG, led by Richard Vulliamy with around 15 foragers started off into these beautiful mixed species woodlands. Many species seen by all, but you can't see everything especially as I only accept photographic records from species I find or nearly find! As most pull up the fungi before I can say "Cornish Pasty", then life is more difficult. Still I list here mostly species that I found and some of which turned out to be some of the more unusual finds of the day by some fluke of nature. A bolete I found very early on in a Hazel copse but in very darkened area of woodland caused me some anguish as it could only be a rarer species, and  Xerocellus armeniacus came closest to the find and key specs. Note the cracking on unusual pinkish colouration on the cap surface shows cream/yellow flesh not red, as in most common Xerocomus. Would be first for Cornwall and Devon if it was the case. After consulting Kibby I feel this is Hortiboletus (new name) engelii, also not common but at least showing the key markers that the species dosplayed at the time, especially no discolouration whne the flesh was cut. Also in full view of the footpath and on beech litter I found several rare Russula's called Sunny Brittlegill or Russula solaris. You only have to see the species and even as in the photo to see how the bright lemon stood out amongst the litter and was almost like a torch buried on the ground. Oddly not seen by many as all finishing their sandwiches. Normally a practice that I follow religiously. At the end of the trail you come across one of the oldest but largest mines in the world (in the middle of the 19th century) here. Amazing to see how much remains of the workings and how they shifted from copper to extract arsenic for world consumption at the time. Not for humans of course but for insect control in the USA at the time. 

Boletus badius - Bay Bolete

Paxillus involutus - Brown Rollrim

Laccaria biocolor - Biocoloured Deceiver. Showed purple base on stem. ID Pauline Penna.

Probably Hortiboletus engelii - an uncommon bolete species in UK.
Will be 1st for Devon and Cornwall.

Russula solaris - Sunny Brittlegill. Another very rare species
outside South Devon but still uncommon here.
Like a light bulb in the leaf litter.

Postia subcaesia - Blueing Bracket

Xerula radicata - Rooting Shank

Megacollybia platyphylla - White-laced Shank

Russula vesca - The Flirt
- a common species under Beech.