Golden Bootleg in Wigan!

[PMG]

Is this as rare as I think it is? Red Data sp??

We had been watching Silent Witness when Ian suddenly jumps up and says 'Fungi' (I thought thats it he's lost it finally ) Then he rushed out to the van and brought this in and I couldn't believe my eyes........... even tho I'd never seen it before I got that shivvery feeling that had me reaching for my books and then the little camera - unfortunately the only decent lighting is the two lamps on the desk here at the computer - which are quite yellowish to begin with - but all the characteristics are there







What a week! The great white egret, now this and even better the computer uploaded these three pics first go each time - I can't believe it

Pauline

[Chris Yeates]

hi

excellent stuff: yes it's a RDB species with a scattering of records (around 110 on the Fungal Records Database - but that nearly always includes some multiple counts of the same record)

see:

NBN Gateway: Golden Bootleg (Phaeolepiota aurea) grid map

worth trying to keep a voucher specimen - even if it's just a cross section / plus spore-print and slice of cap cuticle . . . the Manchester Museum (or indeed Kew) would probably welcome it

its an interesting fungus with some unusual characters, a bit out on its own which is why it has bounced around various genera as mycologists have tried to place it in the 'framework' - it's the only Phaeolepiota species in the world - the only (minor) downer is I don't like the made-up English name

I assume you'll make sure that your local fungus recorder will learn of your exciting find?

best wishes

Chris

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

hi

excellent stuff: yes it's a RDB species with a scattering of records (around 110 on the Fungal Records Database - but that nearly always includes some multiple counts of the same record)

see:

NBN Gateway: Golden Bootleg (Phaeolepiota aurea) grid map

worth trying to keep a voucher specimen - even if it's just a cross section / plus spore-print and slice of cap cuticle . . . the Manchester Museum (or indeed Kew) would probably welcome it

its an interesting fungus with some unusual characters, a bit out on its own which is why it has bounced around various genera as mycologists have tried to place it in the 'framework' - it's the only Phaeolepiota species in the world - the only (minor) downer is I don't like the made-up English name

I assume you'll make sure that your local fungus recorder will learn of your exciting find?

best wishes

Chris

Yes Chris thats what I thought

Have emailed North West Fungus Group and kept the two specimens here.

Today is a silly busy day for me - on my own at work this morning and two appointments this afternoon so it will be this evening before I can think about it again...........

What a week!

Pauline

[Hedge Witch]

Congratulations Pauline - wonderful find, I'm all green with envy

[NickCantle]

I had a nice find of these a couple of weeks back. Though I was indeed surprised (previous to reading about their substrate) about where they were growing! Through crumbled tarmac and stones.

Here's a pretty bad image of them, but taken to illustrate the numbers. There was another large troop about a metre and a half to the right. You can see even more in the background amongst the nettles. The camera doesn't capture their colour as well as the eye.



A beautiful species and I'm glad to have found them Hopefully they'll reappear.

[ron1863]

Well done Pauline and Ian great find

[NickCantle]

As requested;

[PMG]

Very nice Nick - ours got manhandled (Ian!) on the stem and lost that wonderful encrusting sheath - good job the young one was still closed and looking exactly as it should otherwise I may have thought Cortinarius and given in!!

Pauline

PS Have zoomed into that gateway site and would guess the square is smack over Knowsley Park? One of the leaders from the North West Fungus Group says one of the other leaders has found it 'Chorley way' and before that and two other records in 1857!

[PMG]

Further to the bootleg tale - Ian took his camera to work today and went and got these cracking shots of it in situ in Mesnes Park - which is the town centre park!

Pauline

[IanMcL]

Hi Everyone

I'm a newbie here and just wanted to say I too am proud of our Golden Bootlegs!

Here (hopefully!) is a pic I took today; didn't realise they were so big!