Tony Hardware's Fungi Finds: July 2024

At the end of this month I had to kick myself into believing that this was mid-summer when most fungi is supposed to be hiding from people like me. I find it so interesting that when I write that I have found rare species at any time, I'm not shy in coming forward to inform anyone interested what they are or how uncommon as if I don't then many people would just ignore the species perhaps as 'just another one'. This month I recorded nine new species for the County (1 for Bucks!), 5 2nd/3rd records and 6 that were less than 9 other records in the UK, according to the FRDBI where all my records are kept. So no particular order except by date first up was a basidiomycete, which is a surprise at this time anyway, this one being found as I was eye to eye with soil and a resupinate in a beautiful ancient woodland at Climperwell, I noticed a very small Mycena look-a-like next to me that somehow I hadn't trodden on. This turned out to be Psathyrella pygmaea, not that uncommon which has wonderful looking cystidia. Herpotrichia macrotricha was found on Ultricia dioica and was a 1st for Gloucs. Also at Climperwell. This has sheath like appendages at the spores ends. Visiting Robinswood Park near Gloucester for the first time proved worthwhile as I was with Laura Dutton who found an unusual looking corticioid species with net like pores. After careful examination this was Ceriporia metamorphosa, with spores like cashews and slowly turning green with KOH. 1st Gloucs. Back to Bulls Bank grasslands but where limestone springs trickle down the surface, I found a minute red ascomycete on what I think was Hop Sedge by a spring. This would be the delightful (at 400x see pic) Volutella melaloma and 2nd for Gloucs, after my previous find. Only 17 other UK records. To the eye this was only 0.4mm. At Barrow Wake on an Arctium lappa stem was a long-stalked myxo. species Comatricha tenerrima. Just a few other Gloucs records. Hidden beneath the undergrowth I just managed to see a cluster of shiny brown caps and with large bulbous stems which became immature Chlorophyllum brunneum. Again few other Gloucs. records. I went back a week later hoping to see the full mature fungus but it had all been eaten by slugs or other fungi loving insects. Also found here but on the common Hypoxylon fragiforme ascomycetes was its anamorph type known as Calcarisporium arbascula. An interesting corticioid was found Hyphoderma cryptocallimon but with a Mollisia (asco) growing through the hymenium. I believe this to be M. palustris but uncertain as were many of my peers. While joining a Gloucs. Nat. Soc. event and walk around Tewkesbury NR with Giles Alder, under a Giant Hogweed stem and base I found an interesting jelly fungus type. Firstly, I should say that this was a very dead Giant Hogweed otherwise I probably would still have a rash all over me. Not to be touched if alive and well. The Jelly fungus became Stypella glaira, quite rare and was identified by the lack of cystidia as well as other key features. Still 2nd in Gloucs, but with only 16 UK records. Also here and diving into streamside Reed Canary Grass I extracted some stems with Calycellina phalaridis on them in large clusters. This would be 1st for Gloucs and strangely Wales, and SWest with most in the UK found in the NE of England. Also on this plant was Cylindrotrichum ellisii, again new for Gloucs and with only 7 other UK records. Odd as the spores are very distinctive. Back to Stratford Park in Stroud following a quick walk around as it's close to Tesco's! On a dead Alnus twig I found Prosthecium auctum .. again 1st for Gloucs/6th UK. I could have just sat in my car! Back at Climperwell under a wet branch Erynia ovispora was growing out of a dead fly, a creepy parasitic Entomorphthora species! 1st Gloucs and 3rd UK this time!!! Still more! On Alnus here I found Eutypella cerviculata .. 5th UK and so 1st Gloucs. Also on Alnus another rare corticioid in Phlebia fuscoartra with wonderfully large spiny pores and tiny pointy cystidia. Yep, 1st Gloucs and most of England, 9th UK! This would be the second time I have identified Tomentella brunneofirma, which isn't recognised in the UK as yet! How? well the facts as usual speak for themselves being one of the few 'simple septate' species in this genus and the size of the tiny spines on the spores. One day! On an away day on Common Reed by the reservoir at Weston Turville (an old hunting ground as I spent most of my life in Bucks) was Setoseptoria arundinacea. New for Bucks. I was able to cut away old stems in the water by hanging over the edge of a fishing pontoon. Maybe why not found often. Loonies apply here perhaps. Under Corylus at Knightswood Woods I found Crustomyces expallens, new for Gloucs and most of middle Eng. Phew, time I had rest and I still managed to paint a Water Buffalo in oils, which I was pleased with in the end.