Fungi in Broxbourne Woods

seanhalley · #1 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 08:45 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site and mushroom loving in general. In fact, I've always disliked the taste and texture of mushrooms since I was a child and have generally avoided them, unless heavily flavoured with garlic or goats cheese.

ANYWAY... I had morels in France a month ago and since then I've started to explore the world of mushrooms. So today we went mushroom hunting in Broxbourne Woods in Hertfordshire. We took a bunch of photos, and I'm trying to identify them now. Most of them were decayed but hopefully you can help tell me what they are. We didn't pick ay but wehope next time we'll know what would be safe to pick.

So here they are:

and here are my photos frmo the same area but in October:

If anyone could tell me what they are I'd be most grateful. I have had a look online and think that there are some ink caps in there and also a macrolepiota?

Anyway, thanks in advance,
Sean

flaxton · #2 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 09:14 PM

Hi Sean

Welcome WAB.
The first two are Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore)
The next I think could be Trametes gibbosa
The third is a Mycena probably M galericulata
Next comes Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma faciculare)
Finally two Amanita A citrina and A vaginata

These are all of course my take and can and probalby will be rejected by those who follow

Mal

FungiJohn · #3 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanhalley

We didn't pick any but we hope next time we'll know what would be safe to pick.

Sean

Hi Sean and welcome to WAB

Regarding your last sentence, please see:

Is my fungus edible or psychotic requests

John

seanhalley · #4 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 11:29 PM

Hi Mal,

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes the first two were on a fallen birch so that makes sense. The Trametes was coming out of a stump of a tree with stripey (almost tiger-like) bark.

I have one more as shown below. Any idea what they were? They were rock hard and perhaps hollow inside so probably quite old.

Would really like to know if these are common types to be found at this time and in this location - or is it quite a special find? I suspect not since the area we were in was not far off the beaten path. What are the types that are common this time of year?

John, thanks... I'm aware of the possible dangers of consuming funghi (and posting about them).

All the best
Sean

FungiJohn · #5 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 11:39 PM

Hi Sean

These are Cramp balls or King Arthur's cakes - Daldinia concentrica. Very common on Ash but you can also get them on other deciduous trees.

You will also find them on burnt gorse (Daldinia vernicosa).

John

seanhalley · #6 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 11:44 PM

Fantastic, thank you. Is there a good website you're using to help identify them?

Would still like to know what I should be expecting to find this time of year...

Cheers
Sean

Chris Yeates · #7 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Sean

These are Cramp balls or King Arthur's cakes - Daldinia concentrica. Very common on Ash but you can also get them on other deciduous trees.

You will also find them on burnt gorse (Daldinia vernicosa).

John

not as straightforward as that I'm afraid . . . John is quite correct to say that Daldinia on ash is probably D. concentrica - but there are eight Daldinia species recorded for Britain and Ireland, and "Daldinia vernicosa" is a confused (and therefore rejected) name - most records probably refer to Daldinia fissa Lloyd - but . . . .

Chris

Chris Yeates · #8 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanhalley

Fantastic, thank you. Is there a good website you're using to help identify them?
Cheers
Sean

hi

this one is a pretty good start

; but websites and even books have their limitations; mycology is not an easy area, there is no substitute for years of study, and - definitely - going out in the field with experienced mycologists

if you want to take it seriously it is much harder than ornithology or botany I'm afraid - we're talking about many thousands of species . . . .

Chris

hamadryad · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2010, 04:31 PM

the tree with the tiger like bark was probaly prunus avium, the wild cherry, almost a bronzed effect? and the fungus is I concur, Trametes gibbosa.

BROCSMAN · #10 (**permalink**) 05-06-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaxton

Hi Sean

Welcome WAB.
The first two are Piptoporus betulinus (Birch Polypore)
The next I think could be Trametes gibbosa
The third is a Mycena probably M galericulata
Next comes Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma faciculare)
Finally two Amanita A citrina and A vaginata

These are all of course my take and can and probalby will be rejected by those who follow

Mal

Could it be A. fulva rather than vaginata? I always think of vaginata being rather grey.