Tony Hardware's Fungi Finds: Woodland site, Nr Wadebridge

Sunday, 16 September 2018

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?