Beech Stumps.

[TeresaW]

I have found, strolling through two separate areas of mainly beech woodland, mixed with oak, sycamore, some birch and horse chestnut, that if I come across beech stumps, and there are plenty, that they either have nothing, are covered in ivy, or hold at least four different species of fungi in the one place.

I have two I visit regularly, noting many changes and new species growing on them, one has had giant polypore, dead man's fingers, a white mould on the top, mycena and stump puffball, all on the one stump.

Today I came across another beech stump, covered in a yellowish bracket, a white one (probably lumpy bracket), honey fungus and another smaller bracket type I have yet to identify.

Another live beech shows southern bracket, huge shaggy pholiota, and a oyster type white fungus about 20ft up where a branch has been removed.

Around yet another site of old beech, although the stump and trunk have been removed, remnants of root remain, with stinkhorns, pluteus cervinus, haresfoot inkcap and now a big troop of LBJ's.

It seems if one attacks a site, they all join in...

That said, a felled oak is showing at least six varieties in the same area too.