Oct 26, 2023. On a fallen deciduous trunk in Bernwood Forest Penny found a mature striking collection of this bracket, no longer showing its blushing pink colours but nicely 'rosette-shaped. It is probably more commonly found at path edges (apparently on soil but attaching to submerged roots or wood) rather than on trunks or branches and its mazelike underside is typically pinkish white.
Oct 15, 2023. In Bernwood Forest Chris Grimbly found this beautiful example of this quite common species which, however, rarely appears so well formed and regular as here, and hence often causes confusion. It grows on fallen branches, often Beech, but also on the ground on submerged wood / roots in path edges and can even sport red droplets in damp conditions. Like the entry below, the underside is maze-like rather than porous.
Jan 12, 2022. In Naphill Common Gill Ferguson was intrigued by these strange droplets oozing out of some white resupinate fungus on fallen Beech. On seeing her close-up photo Penny at first thought this must be the very common Schizopora paradoxa (Split Porecrust) though could find no reference to it producing droplets. Then, when she recalled exactly where Gill had said she'd found it in Naphill near the Great Beech, Penny realised what it must be. This is a regular species on the fallen Beech there, and is also one which can be confusing to identify because it regularly doesn't form the typical rosette shape which gives it its common name. What it often produces when conditions are moist enough, however, is droplets of coloured liquid! See also Finds 2021 October 26th which is an amazing example showing both the droplets, the white 'toothlike' pored surface and the lack of rosette shape! Two further examples showing the Rosette shape - both from the same spot in Naphill Common.
Sep 1, 2022. At Penn Wood in a clearing John Catterson noticed this fungus growing apparently on the ground and was stumped as to its identity. This is a species which quite often confuses people and seems to come up in a variety of different guises. It likes to grow on fallen deciduous wood or submerged roots, commonly Beech, and when fresh has a distinct pink tinge and mazelike pores underneath.
Oct 2, 2021. In Bernwood Forest Phil Townsend came across this lurid bleeding porous mass and wondered seriously if he'd discovered the extremely rare Hydnellum peckii (Devil's Tooth) - a species found almost exclusively in the Caledonian forests of Scotland. Well, that would have been something and Penny recalls having been fooled by the same experience in the New Forest (like Bernwood an area with good quantities of mature Pine). In wet weather Abortiporous biennis often produced these red droplets (as does the Hydnellum) and when emerging out of the ground apparently not on wood rather than on log piles etc it can be somewhat confusing. Any Hydnellum species would have distinct spines, however - very different from the strongly porous surface seen here.
Sep 28, 2021. In Naphill Common on fallen Beech Claire Williams found this species of bracket which often causes confusion until it forms the typical pinkish 'rosette' which makes it more recognisable. It more commonly appears in the middle of paths growing on submerged roots rather than on fallen wood; it is tough and leathery and is one of the species which has a mazelike pattern underneath rather than pores, almost reminiscent of 'teeth' as in Hydnum.
Oct 28, 2020. On a fallen Beech branch in Naphill Common Sarah Ebdon found this quite common but often confusing bracket. We do have a previous example dated Sept 25, but this is a very variable species, most often found growing on submerged roots as if out of the soil at path edges, and sometimes not forming the typical rosette shape. It is not nearly so common to find it actually on fallen wood as here. The zoning often has a pink tinge, also seen in the underside which is a labyrinthine maze which bruises pink when pressed.
Sep 25, 2020. Paul Goby first noticed this quite common bracket on a Beech log in Naphill Common and it was the subject of interest over the next week in case it was a rarity. It was eventually identified by Martyn Ainswoth (RBG Kew) . Commonly found growing on submerged roots at pathsides, this species is much less often found on logs (as here) when it appears somewhat atypical. Note the labyrinthine (maze-like) pore formation and pinkish tones which are key features.
Agaricus arvensis (Horse Mushroom)
Sep 19, 2020. Penny Cullington found this collection in a grassy area in Penn Wood. These were good sized fruit bodies with caps about 12 cm across, and under moister conditions they would have gradually stained yellow where damaged. Today's were too dry and showed little change where I scratched them either on the caps or the stem. Note the free gills and ring on the stem visible in the second photo.
Agaricus augustus (The Prince)
Jun 19, 2023. In Jordans Village Jesper Launder was surprised to find this unusual and sizeable Mushroom managing to fruit successfully during one of our hottest driest Junes for some years. It seemed a shame to uproot it for the sake of a look at the gills and stem, so he left it in situ (probably for someone else to come along and knobble, seeing as it is renowned as one of the tastiest in the genus!). This is a new entry for Finds.
Agaricus bernardii (Salty Mushroom)
Sep 24, 2022. In a grassy verge near the road on Goldhill Common, Chalfont St. Peter, Jim Wills found a small group of Mushrooms and took some detailed photos to help with identification. Noting also that the seaside plant Lesser Sea Spurrey was growing nearby he realised that this was likely to be this seaside loving mushroom - both plant and fungus having followed the salt inland where used in wintertime on roads. The reddening flesh, the large scales and squat growth habit all confirm this species. We have an earlier entry (September 15th) but of immature specimens, hence this addition to complete the picture.
Sep 15, 2022. Near Jordans village Jesper Launder found this occasional Mushroom species, one which favours dunes and coastal grassland but is now often found inland near roadside verges where salt in wintertime has been spread. The species is is squat and stocky for the genus, has an unpleasant urine-like smell and flesh which tends to turn faintly reddish orange. We have just three previous records, this being the first for Finds.
Agaricus bitorquis (Pavement Mushroom)
Apr 23, 2024. In Gerrards Cross Jesper Launder came across this singleton mushroom in a roadside verge and on turning it over was able to name the species Besides the fact that it favours urban habitats it has a very distinctive and persistent 'double' ring with a raised upper and lower edge - clearly visible in photo 3. The cap has clearly pushed its way through the soil with debris still attached and the gills are still quite pink and showing their 'free' attachment. Though not considered rare, we have just three previous county records and this is a new entry for Finds.
Agaricus bohusii (Medusa Mushroom)
Aug 17, 2023. In Whitecross Green Wood Trish Glenn found this tight clump of very scaly brown Mushrooms growing in woodchip beside a path. This is a striking and distinctive Agaricus, occurring in mixed woodland (both conifer and deciduous) but is uncommon; it is almost always tightly clustered in good numbers like this with stems fused at the base and dark pointed scales on the cap. We have just a handful of previous sites with a record from here back in 2012. See also in Finds 2020 September 19th.
Agaricus campestris (Field Mushroom)
Oct 15, 2021. In a wide grass verge near Stokenchurch (just within the county border!) Penny spied this collection from the car and stopped to collect them. This is a species which appears to be much less common than it used to be. The white cap tends to discolour pink or even greyish after rain and the gills are bright pink when young, gradually becoming greyer then almost black with age. The stems are white and at first have a flimsy ring but this is often soon lost. If you're collecting for the pot you should always check that the stem base when scratched does not stain chrome yellow. If it does then you have the very similar A. xanthodermus which causes stomach upsets and has, instead of the sweet 'mushroom' smell, and inky unpleasant smell.
Jul 1, 2021. In a meadow near Jordans village Jesper Launder found this young fresh mushroom just pushing through the grass and covered with early morning dew - an encouraging sign of the coming season approaching. He left it in situ rather than disturb its development so the crowded gills - no doubt still pink at this stage - and the white stem with a ring are features not yet visible here. Hopefully we'll have more images to elucidate the species further though this is a species much less frequently seen than it used to be.
Agaricus comtulus (Mini Mushroom)
Jul 18, 2023. In Gerrards Cross in a grassy verge Jesper Launder saw this group of small Mushrooms and took them home to check their identity. With basically white caps, pink free gills which darken with age, and a stem nearly always with a ring, this genus is an easy one to name in the field but far from easy to name to species. Today's is small and delicate (belonging to Section Minores) and one which yellows rather than reddens where damaged though not markedly; it has a pleasant almond smell. This is a new entry for Finds.
Agaricus crocodilinus (Macro Mushroom)
Jul 27, 2023. In a grassy glade in Salden Wood Bob Simpson could hardly miss this huge mushroom which had appeared only in the last day or so, measuring 14 cm across by 8 cm tall though clearly still nowhere near fully expanded. This species (previously A. urinascens, also A. macrosporus) is the largest in the genus (also having the largest spores) and can apparently get to twice this size! Both the cap and stem surface develop minute fleecy scales (photo 3) which help to separate it from other similar white species having a cog-wheel-like ring as seen here, and though having the familiar 'mushroomy' smell to start with this species develops a urine component later. We have one previous entry in Finds, 2022 September 29th, though under the previous name.
Agaricus depauperatus (an unusual Mushroom with no common name)
Aug 1, 2023. When Jesper Launder found this species in Jordans village last year (see Finds 2022 September 15th) it was one he knew but was new to the county. Here it is again from the same spot.
Sep 15, 2022. Near Jordans village Jesper Launder found this rare Mushroom species - a new record for the county. The genus Agaricus is basically an easy one to recognise but in fact one of the hardest to then identify to species, of which there are many which look extremely similar. A. depauperatus seems to be characterised by its pale flesh coloured cap which becomes faintly scaly with age, the thick 'cogwheel' like ring which then hangs down on the stem with a tattered edge, the stem is slightly tapered at the base and both stem and cap flesh stain pinkish orange. This collection will be dried for sequencing.
Agaricus dulcidulus (Rosy Wood Mushroom)
Apr 6, 2024. In Chalfont Park (Chalfont St. Peter) Jesper Launder found this singleton small purplish brown Mushroom under Cypressus. He noticed on collection that the stem was clearly yellowing where handled, then checking in Kibby vol 3 found the lilaceous colours, small size and yellowing all pointed to Agaricus purpurellus, given as close to A. dulcidulus but separate from it. However, as Species Fungorum still lists it as a synonym of A. dulcidulus we stay with that name here though suspect this may change as this is known to be a species complex still to be fully resolved.
Jul 27, 2023. In a grassy verge under trees in Gerrards Cross Jesper Launder found this nice collection.This is a small species of Mushroom - a member of Section Minores (see another of these, A. comtulus on July 18th) but having a notably lilaceous to vinaceous cap centre, also somewhat bright pink gills when young. Like many in the genus it stains yellow on both cap and stem if scratched or damaged in age. It also has notably small spores which help to separate it from other somewhat similar small species. This is a new entry for Finds though we have a fair number of county records.
Oct 19, 2022. Under mixed deciduous trees at Bittam's Wood, Dancersend our small group found a nice collection of this quite unusual Mushroom, recognisable from its small stature and cream cap with a darker slightly vinaceous centre. It also tends to yellow when handled and has extremely small spores. Checking our records Penny found that we also recorded it in this area last year. It's a new name for Finds.
Agaricus impudicus (Tufted Wood Mushroom)
Nov 1, 2023. In Bradenham Churchyard Penny found a couple of patches with this species alongside some gravestones. It is quite similar to A. sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom) sharing the same brown scaly cap but does not redden when scratched or damaged. It is a common species and is not restricted to woodland despite its name and seems to favour churchyards. (In photo 1 the two small yellow caps - lower left - are not this species but Cystoderma amianthinum - see the entry above!) Photo 3 is of a collection made the same day in Chalfont St. Peter by Jesper Launder.
Nov 1, 2023. In Bradenham Churchyard Penny found a couple of patches with this species alongside some gravestones. It is quite similar to A. sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom) sharing the same brown scaly cap but does not redden when scratched or damaged. It is a common species and is not restricted to woodland despite its name and seems to favour churchyards. (In photo 1 the two small yellow caps - lower left - are not this species but Cystoderma amianthinum )
Sep 25, 2022. In Jordans village Jesper Launder found a couple of this Mushroom species just emerging. Very similar to A. silvaticus (Wood Mushroom) - and no doubt often mistaken for it, hence far less often recorded though equally as common - it tends to be bigger with more contrast between the white flesh and brown scales, also the flat brown central disc is usually pronounced as seen here. An important difference, however, is that the cap and stem when scratched turn neither red - as in A. silvaticus and many Mushrooms - nor yellow - also a feature of many species.
Nov 18, 2021. In Bradenham Churchyard Penny found a few of this quite common species of Mushroom, one which at first glance looks like A. sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom) ie having brown scales on the cap and a solid pendant ring on the stem. However, unlike that species, when the cap is scratched it fails to turn red, the flesh remaining white. It also has a faintly rubbery smell and unlike the other Wood Mushrooms is not a good one to eat.
Nov 15, 2020. Penny C. was surprised to find good numbers of this quite common Agaricus coming up this late in the season in grass under Pine in Holmer Green churchyard. It is easy to separate from the somewhat similar A. sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom) because neither the cap nor the stem redden when scratched - a diagnostic feature of that species, neither does it stain yellow as many species of this genus do. The dark brown central disc is typical as are the cocoa brown fine radiating scales, the gills are persistently quite bright pink as and it has a skirtlike ring on the stem. Rather than the pleasant 'mushroomy' smell of many in this genus, it has an unpleasant smell similar to Scleroderma or Lepiota cristata.
Agaricus lanipes (a Mushroom with no common name)
Oct 15, 2021. In Hodgemoor Woods Jesper Launder found this rare species of Mushroom in deciduous litter under Beech, a first for the county. It is characterised not only by the attractive brown scales on the cap which tends to be slightly depressed at the centre, but it has the unusual combination of flesh which turns pink above when damaged but at the stem base turns yellow. It also has a strong sweet almond smell. A lovely photo and a nice species.
Agaricus moelleri (Inky Mushroom)
Jul 13, 2023. In Jordans Village Jesper Launder recognised this Mushroom species having found it here before. it is a close relative of A. xanthodermus (Yellow Stainer) having the same unpleasant inky smell of phenol, yellowing cap (see photo 2) and strongly yellowing stem base. The fine dark scales on the cap separate it from that species, however.
Oct 27, 2022. At Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens Penny found a couple of specimens of this quite unusual species, one that is related to A. xanthoderma (Yellow Stainer). It shares the same rather unpleasant inky smell of Phenol with that species but differs in having a coating of very fine blackish scales over the cap and less marked yellow staining at the stem base though all parts will show signs of yellowing where damaged. The photos are Stephen Plummer's and this is a first for Finds.
Agaricus phaeolepidotus (a Mushroom with no common name)
Mar 21, 2024. In Gerrards Cross Jesper Launder came across this somewhat early fruiting singleton. This mushroom is not that common and related to the A. xanthodermus group (ie the Yellow Stainers), members of which have an inky smell. Though superficially easily mistaken for A. sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom), that species stains red (cap and stem) when scratched and has the typical pleasant 'mushroomy' smell whereas today's species does not redden anywhere and tends to stain yellow at the stem base (though not as strikingly as in others in this group).
May 23, 2023. In a mossy bank under Oak in Seer Green Jesper Launder found this quite unusual Agaricus - one that he is familiar with from this area though we have recorded it from only one other known Bucks site. Characters which are distinctive to separate it from others in a genus easy to recognise but often hard to name to species: a distinct smell of Phenol (ie of ink) rather than the sweet familiar 'mushroomy' smell of many in the genus, a cap with distinct darkish scales on a paler background and a flattish central disc, flesh which stains faintly orange-brown, finally a stem having a pendant ring (not visible here) and which is swollen at its base.
Jul 2, 2021. In Jordans village Jesper Launder noticed this singleton mushroom - a species closely related to A. xanthodermus (Yellow Stainer) but lacking the striking chrome yellow staining at the stem base of that species. It, however, has the same unpleasant phenol smell and the cap typically disrupts as seen in the photo here and tends to have a flattish central disc. Jesper comments that it occurs quite commonly around Jordans but this is only our second county record, perhaps indicative of the difficulty involved in identifying the less usual members of this genus to species.
Agaricus porphyrizon (Lilac Mushroom)
Sep 16, 2022. In Seer Green cemetery Jesper Launder found this rare species of Mushroom, one that appears from our records to be new to the county. The young specimens here show the distinctive lilac-brown tinged cap and clavate to slightly bulbous stem of the species, though the thin pendant ring and gills which lack much pink are not yet visible as the ring is still intact under the cap. Though it reportedly has the sweet 'mushroomy' smell associated with Field Mushrooms and the like, the stem base reacts as in the inky smelling A. xanthoderma (Yellow Stainer), turning instantly brassy yellow.
Agaricus subflocculosus (a Mushroom with no common name)
Oct 16, 2021. In Jordans village in a grassy verge Jesper Launder collected this rare species, and at home by process of elimination using reference books and a scope came to his determination - a new species for the county. Diagnostic features are the brown scaly cap, rather squat appearance having a bulbous stem and a thick ring, also flesh which turns red in the cap but (unusually) orange in the stem, with a pleasant mushroomy smell having a coconut component. It apparently is normally associated with conifers, less often with deciduous trees, though Jesper doesn't comment on the nearest tree here. This was a special find.
Agaricus subperonatus (Tapered Mushroom)
Jul 25, 2023. In Jordans Village Jesper Launder found these rare mushrooms growing in soil / litter at the roadside. This is a distinctive dark scaly-capped Mushroom with bands of dark brown on the stem below the ring and reddening flesh throughout (seen in photo 2). It favours disturbed soil in inhabited areas such as parks and gardens, usually near trees or bushes. Though with over 70 records in FRDBI this is a new species for the county.
Agaricus sylvaticus (Blushing Wood Mushroom)
Oct 28, 2020. Paul and Penny C. found this species fruiting in woodchip under a large Cedar at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens. This is one of the scaly capped members of the genus and also one which reddens strongly when damaged. It can be found in mixed woodland and also in parkland with trees (as here) but is not a grassland species. In photo 1 note the stem of the specimen in front reddening where we scratch it, also the very pink to almost red gills of the left hand specimen which had previously been kicked over. Note the stem ring and pale gills of the immature specimen in photo 2.
Agaricus sylvicola (Wood Mushroom)
Nov 27, 2022. In Captains Wood near Chesham Greg Douglas found good numbers of this fairly common Mushroom coming up under Beech in an area where they'd fruited a few weeks ago. The species is quite similar to A. arvensis (Horse Mushroom), ie quite large with a smooth white cap which yellows a bit when scratched, also a sweet 'mushroomy' smell, but the ring is flimsier and the stem tends to have a swollen base, also the gills are on the grey side even when young and never bright pink. It occurs only in woodland whereas A. arvensis favours more open grassy woodland edges, hedgerows.
Nov 17, 2021. In thick Beech litter in Pullingshill Wood Penny noticed this cluster of white capped mushrooms, the largest being about 13 cm across. As its common name suggests, this is a purely woodland Agaricus and has a smooth white cap which tends to stain yellow where damaged (but not bright chrome at the stem base as in A. xanthodermus!). The gills are pale greyish pink at first, not bright pink as in some species, and it has a pleasant smell of aniseed.
Agaricus urinascens (Macro Mushroom)
Sep 29, 2022. In an orchard at Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan licked her lips when she found this pair growing in the same spot where they appeared last year. Better known by its previous name A. macrosporus, it is not only our largest Agaricus but does indeed also have the largest spores for the genus - checked by Jackie - though there is another name change in the offing here: it could soon be A. crocadilinus! This seems to be a first for Finds though the species is by no means rare.
Agaricus xanthodermus (Yellow Stainer)
Nov 15, 2023. Under conifer in Prestwood Churchyard Penny found this species busily freshly fruiting in two different spots (see also the previous entry, October 17th, for an earlier fruiting found here in one of these spots). The typical features were all showing nicely including the bright brassy yellow staining where she'd picked off the stem base (photo 3). We tend to think of Agaricus as a late summer / early autumn species but this year seems to be bucking the trend.
Oct 17, 2023. The previous day, Penny received photo 1 from Phil Townsend to ask if she agreed that this was Yellow Stainer as he thought. He 'd found it at Prestwood Churchyard. Being unsure as the stem base was not visible (also many Agaricus species have caps which bruise yellow as seen here) she visited the site today to check and see what else was around. Under a Cypressus in the far corner she found more examples and was then able to confirm Phil's ID though the bright brass yellow staining at the stem base (photo 3) was not as strong as it is sometimes. However, it was definitely present and that together with the strong inky smell and somewhat square cap shape when young were enough to be sure.
Oct 19, 2021. In Downley Woods Claire Williams found what she thought was a tasty collection of Mushrooms, noticed the caps were yellowing where touched and that the smell was unpleasant and therefore guessed they might be Agaricus urinascens. What she didn't check was whether the stem base when scratched turned bright chrome yellow! On receiving the photos Penny recognised the rather angular square caps with flat tops and suggested Claire might go back to test the base. This she did and sure enough photo 2 reveals the telltale signs of this species- known to cause gastric upsets if eaten. Many species of Agaricus have caps which turn yellow where damaged and are still good to eat, but not this one - alone in staining strongly at the stem base.
Jul 8, 2021. In Rushbeds Wood Joanna Dodsworth found these mushrooms which are showing no signs of yellowing on the cap or side of the stem. But at home when she cut one open (photo 2) the telltale chrome yellow staining at the stem base was conclusive. The species also has an unpleasant smell of old fashioned ink (phenol) rather than the familiar sweet 'mushroomy' smell of many white (edible) mushroom species. This is one to be avoided and can cause gastric upsets.
Oct 19, 2020. We have this species already, dated Sept 10th, but these were such pristine specimens - growing on a large woodchip pile at Burnham Beeches and found by Claudi Soler (photo Penny C.) - that we felt it was worth including. it's quite late in the season to be finding this but all the salient features are showing nicely.
Sep 10, 2020. This was found fruiting in large numbers in Rushbeds Wood by Penny Cullington. There are certainly edible mushrooms around at the moment but this is not one of them and can cause gastric upsets. It can be separated from other very similar species of Agaricus by the tell tale bright chrome yellow stains which develop in seconds when you scratch the very base of the stem; it also has a different inky smell. Many other Mushroom species can show yellow staining elsewhere on the fruitbody but only this one reacts in this way at the stem base.
Agrocybe molesta (Bearded Fieldcap)
Jun 9, 2022. At Stampwell Farm in a piece of lawn Jackie Ewan found this cluster and, noticing the distinct hanging veil remnants on the cap edge and cracking just starting on the cap surface, took one home to check the microscopy. The larger spore size and tendency for the cap surface to crack help to separate this species from the quite similar A. praecox (see the earlier entry dated May 21st) which also has veil remnants and a stem ring which can quickly disappear. The genus generally has a preference for fruiting from May through to early autumn - none our records for A. molesta are later than August.
Agrocybe pediades (Common Fieldcap)
Apr 20, 2024. At Stampwell Farm this species is a regular at this time of year, and Jackie Ewan reports that it is just starting to appear in the grassy areas. She often notes that the stem tends to have a kink, clearly visible here. The genus has spores (also gills given time) which are brown, fruits in spring and several members, like this one, tend to lose the ring on the stem quite quickly.
Apr 28, 2023. At Stampwell Farm in an orchard Jackie Ewan found the first fruiting of this early summer season grassland species - one that she knows well and which is very common here.
Jun 2, 2022. At Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan noticed clumps of this species just emerging in grazed grassy areas, no doubt triggered by the recent rain. The species was very common here last year though started fruiting a month earlier.
Jul 12, 2021. In the grassy area near the main car park in Burnham Beeches Penny found several of these small ochre capped mushrooms, no more than 1.5 cms across. A fairly typical pale LBJ, caps are smooth and slightly sticky, gills are palish brown and the stem is ringless (some others in the genus can have a ring on the stem). This is quite a common summertime grassland species and seems to have been particularly in evidence this year, though we appear to have only four county sites for it, it surprisingly being new today for Burnham Beeches.
May 14, 2021. At Stampwell Farm near Chalfont St Peter Jackie Ewan found these small mushrooms growing in well manured soil in grazed pasture. The genus tends to fruit in spring or summer and has about 10 species known in Britain. A. pediades is in fact a complex of species and is likely to be split up further as further sequencing is undertaken. We have very few records for the county.
Agrocybe praecox (Spring Fieldcap)
Apr 4, 2024. In a grassy area at Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan found this nice example of this seasonal grassland species, one that she regularly turns up here. Typified by its pale cap, brown gills and spores and ring on the stem usually seen as pendant, the ring here must have only just detached itself from the edge of the cap and has yet to hang down downwards.
May 17, 2023. Along a grassy road verge at Turville Heath Penny was on the look out for this early Summer fruiting grassland genus so was not surprised to find these two clusters. The largest cap was about 2.5 cms across and the remnants of ring on the stem pointed to this species which the spores and gill cells then confirmed later at home.
Nov 12, 2022. In an orchard at Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan was a bit surprised to find this species which is a regular at this site during late Spring / early Summer. Presumably the mild conditions prevalent at the moment have persuaded it that it should be making an appearance now. The majority of our county records fall between May and July with just a couple in October, but this is a first for November.
May 21, 2022. At Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan found the first fruiting of this species in the same large meadow as it occurred in quantities last Spring. Note the remains of the ring which often can also leave remnants on the cap edge, though this feature can be missing in more mature specimens. The species has a distinct mealy smell.
Jun 4, 2021. In Brill Common Joanna Dodsworth found these nice fresh specimens in grassy soil near a Lime tree. More more about the species see also under May 25th where we have several other examples - this is a species clearly abundant at the moment.
May 25, 2021. On a visit to Stampwell Farm near Seer Green Penny found good numbers of this species in soil in grazed pasture. This is one of the genus which has a ring on the stem which often disappears quite quickly but can be clearly seen still covering the gills on the young specimens in photo 3 with remnants visible on older specimens in photos 1 and 2. The yellow ochre caps can get to 6 cm across and in dry weather often become remarkably cracked (a useful character) but here they were smooth, also slight sticky after the rain. Photo 4, however, shows an example of a typically cracked cap sent in by Claire Williams a few days later. This is quite a common springtime species given the correct grassland habitat.
Agrocybe rivulosa (Wrinkled Fieldcap)
Sep 7, 2023. At Stampwell Farm despite a very hot week Jackie Ewan found this species still busily fruiting on a woodchip pile. Note the thin pendant rings visible on several stems, also the brown spore colour visible where mature spores have dropped onto the caps beneath. (This is often a useful way to discover spore colour in the field when two specimens are close together.) The RH specimen shows how pale the gills are initially whereas in the LH specimen the gills are clearly the typical chocolate brown of this genus, reflecting its spore colour. See also in Finds 2022 November 17th and 2023 July 25th.
Jul 25, 2023. At Stampwell Farm on a relatively fresh woodchip pile Jackie Ewan found this species in good numbers. The pale dry caps which are marked with rivulets rather than wrinkles, the beige brown gills typical of the genus and the stem with a distinct ring are all good characters; add to that its biggish size for the genus, its mealy smell and clustered occurrence on woodchip and it should cause no problems to identify.
Nov 17, 2022. In a dung heap at Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan noticed these 'Mushroom' - like mushrooms coming up a few days earlier and was at first perplexed by them. However, when they became more mature and developed the typical wrinkled, also cracked surface she realised it was genus Agrocybe and not Agaricus and worked out the species using microscopic characters as well. It normally occurs on rotting woodchip piles rather than dung, being one of several species now spreading rapidly with the use of that medium for mulch, so maybe there was woody remains in this heap as well? This is a first for Finds.
Aleuria aurantia (Orange Peel)
Oct 30, 2023. In a grassy area at Naphill Common Sarah Ebdon found these two fruitbodies lurking and living up to their common name. She also took a short video
of a large 'puff' of spores being shot out - impressive, and our first video on Finds! If you've ever wondered how cup fungi spread their spores, here you can see it in action. Once they are mature any change in air pressure will trigger the fungus to literally expel its spores into the air for dispersal. The species tends to favour disturbed soil and is so brightly coloured - always a delight to find. See the Masterlist for a choice of other entries.
Oct 5, 2021. Penny never visits Turville Heath without checking a certain woodchip pile (now very rotten) and nearly always finds something of interest there. Today these brightly colour cups were just emerging, the examples in photo 3 being under 1 cm across. Photo 2 shows the contrast between the shiny upper surface and pruinose roughened underside of the species which often occurs in disturbed soil.
May 18, 2021. Heath. A common species in late summer and autumn, out of our 50 odd county records this is a first for this time of year. It favours disturbed ground and these brightly coloured cups can get to around 10 cms across, usually fruiting in clusters. So if you see one (and have established that it isn't someone's discarded orange peel!) its worth looking around for more.
Oct 4, 2020. Sarah Ebdon spotted this attractive brightly coloured cup fungus in mossy soil at the edge of Kings Wood, Tylers Green. Always a nice species to find, this occasional Ascomycete appears much like an orange species of Peziza but is in fact not related. It often occurs on disturbed soil, ruts in tracks, and can sometimes be found in large clusters with fruit bodies getting to about 8 cm across or more.
Aleuria congrex (a very rare species of Orangepeel)
Oct 27, 2021. At Stoke Common in 2010 two collections were made of this miniature Orangepeel species, the second collection being identified by Ascomycete expert Brian Spooner as new to Britain. Despite searching for it on subsequent visits we had failed to find it again - until today! Penny was thrilled to find a small patch of what appeared to be the same species in bare damp peaty disturbed soil though there are quite a few other orange ascos which could possibly be confused with it in the field. So it was not until checking at home that she could finally rejoice, and we now have the opportunity to have it sequenced - not done previously. This seems to be the only UK site for the species so far, so this was an important find.
Amanita betulae (a rare Grisette with no common name)
Jul 17, 2023. At Stampwell Farm under Birch Jackie Ewan found this Grisette and assumed it had to be the common A. fulva (Tawny Grisette) despite its rather paler cap colour and volva lacking the typical rust brown markings of that species. When nearby she spotted an immature 'button' which clearly showed the rust brown markings she was convinced. Penny, however, was uncertain on receiving the photo and knew that several other similar species existed so checked in Kibby vol 2 which covers A. betulae. Reading that this species has a faint brown gill edge (which helps to distinguish it from other lookalikes) she zoomed up on Jackie's photo where the brown edges near the cap rim are clearly visible (photo 2). Other features are the paler cap, the large white volva and association with Birch - though A. fulva also occurs under Birch but not exclusively. This is new to the county and certainly one to check for if you find a pale Grisette under Birch bearing in mind the brown gill edge and white volva.
Amanita ceciliae (Snakeskin Grisette)
Jul 16, 2023. In Bernwood Forest Jesper Launder spotted this unusual Amanita still at the 'button' stage but nevertheless unmistakeable with its patches of large greyish flakes of veil adorning the cap. The species occurs with a mix of deciduous trees and this particular specimen appears unlikely to get a chance to develop further having already been munched by slugs. Like all those in this genus named Grisette, it lacks a ring on the slender tapering stem which in this species has greyish snakeskin markings.
Sep 13, 2020. This quite uncommon Amanita has turned up in several sites this week though often as singletons. Here we have a doubleton from Rushbeds Wood growing under Hazel (Penny Cullington, Sept 10th) and a singleton from Bradenham Wood under Beech (Sarah Ebdon, Sept 13th). This is one of a group of Amanita species which lack a ring and have crumbly easily collapsible volvas at the stem base. A. ceciliae has notably large dark greyish veil patches on the cap, the grey tones also developing on the lower stem and volva as it matures.
Amanita citrina (False Deathcap)
Oct 22, 2023. In Turville Heath under Hornbeam Penny found this group which show off all the vital features of this very common species (except for its smell!) which has just started fruiting prolifically. Note the tiny 'button' on the left in photo 1 - a bit like a miniature cottage loaf in shape and quite easily mistaken for an Earthball at this stage. Note also the large volva with a clear rim around it, the stem with a ring, the white gills and yellow tinted cap with flecks of veil still attached. All you need to confirm it is the smell of potato peelings. There is also an entirely white form (var. alba) which has exactly the same smell.
Sep 4, 2021. In the wooded edge of Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan found one of our commonest Amanitas under Oak and Birch. Despite its rather scary name, this species rarely looks much like the genuine and deadly Deathcap - Amanita phalloides (also often quite common in our area) and in fact is much more often misidentified as the equally toxic Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel) - thankfully extremely rare around here. Important features to note: the lemon yellow cap usually with plentiful white flecks of veil and the round ball-like volva enclosing the stem base, both seen clearly here. Thirdly, if you pick it, it smells distinctly of potato peelings! Neither of the deadly species have yellow cap colours, the first being greenish though sometimes almost white, the second being white. The confusion comes with the white capped A. citrina var. alba for obvious reasons! Then the shape of the volva and the smell become diagnostic: only A. citrina has the potato peeling smell and such a regular but roughened ball-like volva - usually closed at the top; the volvas of both the other two species tend to be smooth but ragged and open at the top, furthermore both have a rather sickly honeylike smell.
Oct 22, 2020. Paul C. found this collection under mixed deciduous trees in Hodgemoor Woods (photo Penny C.). This is the Amanita commonly misnamed as A. virosa (Destroying Angel)! Earlier we did have the genuine article, new to the county and from this same site (see photo and notes dated Sept 18) though it was only an immature specimen unfortunately. However, this white variety of A. citrina has all the same features as the much commoner yellow-capped variety (see photo also dated Sept 18) including the smell of potato peelings and the round bulblike volva at the stem base - both features distinctly different from those found in A. virosa.
Sep 18, 2020. One of our commonest Amanitas, this has been in evidence in several woods recently but usually somewhat shrivelled in the heat. At Hodgemoor Wood Penny Cullington found some reasonably fresh fruit bodies growing under Beech. Note the lemon yellow caps with hint of green typically having flecks of veil which rub off easily, the white gills and stem with a skirtlike ring and prominent bulblike volva at the base. The acidic and striking smell of potato peelings of this species is particularly significant because it serves to separate the species from the two deadly species with which it can at times appear very similar. Note here the largest LH cap which has greenish tones and no veil flecks, appearing extremely reminiscent of the Deathcap (very common at the moment). However, that species has a sweet sickly honey-like smell, also a volva with a clear gutter (see photo dated 13th). The Destroying Angel (equally deadly but extremely rare in the south) has a similar smell to Deathcap (but see more on this species, dated today!)
Amanita citrina var. alba (False Deathcap)
Oct 22, 2020. Paul C. found this collection under mixed deciduous trees in Hodgemoor Woods (photo Penny C.). This is the Amanita commonly misnamed as A. virosa (Destroying Angel)! Earlier we did have the genuine article, new to the county and from this same site (see photo and notes dated Sept 18) though it was only an immature specimen unfortunately. However, this white variety of A. citrina has all the same features as the much commoner yellow-capped variety (see photo also dated Sept 18) including the smell of potato peelings and the round bulblike volva at the stem base - both features distinctly different from those found in A. virosa.
Amanita crocea (Orange Grisette)
Jul 30, 2023. In grass under Birch at Turville Heath Penny was pleased to spot the brightly coloured cap of this beautiful and quite uncommon Amanita though sadly the specimen was a singleton and somewhat damaged - well passed its sell-by date. This is a typical though quite large Grisette, sharing with others in this group the striate cap margin and tapering graceful ringless stem having a loose fragile sac (volva) at its base. Its subtle saffron cap colour, also seen on the stem as well, and white volva are the key ID features. Photos 3 and 4 of a better specimen were taken a couple of weeks later at the same site.
Sep 18, 2020. It's always a delight to find this beautiful species which was today growing under Birch at Hodgemoor Wood found by Penny Cullington. Similar in shape to a large Amanita fulva, this Amanita has a cap of saffron-orange, darker at the centre and finely striate at the edge where paler, cream gills and a graceful stem lacking a ring but with faint saffron flocks and a large white floppy loose volva, easily damaged on collection. It is host specific with Birch though apparently occasionally found under Beech.
Amanita echinocephala (Solitary Amanita)
Oct 26, 2022. Under Beech at Ragpits Reserve, Aston Clinton, Jesper Launder found this quite unusual Amanita - one which likes really chalky soil. The cap veil cells are raised and prominently scale-like and are also found below the ring on the stem, making this species quite distinctive.
Sep 23, 2020. Yet another Amanita for our growing list, these three specimens were found (as singletons) by Penny Cullington at Pulpit Hill in very chalky soil - one under Beech and two under Birch. An uncommon species, the Latin name describes the almost prickly scale-like veil patches on the cap which are a diagnostic feature (see second photo) and separate it from, for instance, A. citrina. The cream gills are distinctive also, as are the rather ragged volva (very hard to extricate without damage) and yellowish ring on the stem. The name, however, is in the process of changing to A. solitaria, reflecting the species' solitary habit.
Amanita excelsa var. spissa (Grey spotted Amanita)
Jul 21, 2023. At Burnham Beeches Stephen Plummer found this nice example of a common species which often sometimes gets misnamed - either as a Blusher or as a Panthercap. Similar to A. rubescens (see just below) it does not 'blush' were damaged and tends to have more brown in the cap colour with conspicuous grey velar patches (not white as in A. pantherina). Note also the striations imprinted onto the upper stem, present also in Blusher but absent from Panthercap which incidentally also has a much more prominent volva than today's species.
May 27, 2022. If Bob Simpson gets the prize for the first Bolete this year (yesterday), then Penny claims the prize for the first Amanita today! At a bone dry Stoke Common she was amazed to find anything fresh at all, so this find in a cleared area under a lone Pine was indeed a surprise. Not the greatest specimens but at least they were recognisable, the bright sunlight not doing the photo any favours, however. A glance at our database shows a few June records amongst the many (from Hodgemoor Woods and Penn Wood) but none for May!
Sep 4, 2020. This was found by Penny Cullington in Bradenham Woods under Oak and Beech. Not quite as common as the similar A. rubescens, also sometimes mistaken for the very poisonous A. pantherina, note the grey rather irregular specks of cap veil (which rub off as in all members of the genus) and lack of pink stains. The first character separates it from A. pantherina which has really white and regular veil patches, the second separates it from A. rubescens. Another useful confirmation that you have A. excelsa and not A. pantherina is well illustrated in the second photo (from Naphill Common Sept 20, Paul Goby): note the clear striations on and above the ring on the stem. These occur in both A. excelsa and A. rubescens but not in A. pantherina.
Amanita franchetii (Gilded Amanita)
Jul 25, 2023. In Bernwood Forest Penny and Paul found a small cluster of an unfamiliar and unusual Amanita under Oak. Though sadly in rather a dilapidated state they were similar in shape and type to A. rubescens or A. excelsa but the veil remnants on the cap were distinctly yellow, with signs of yellow on the stem base and ring also. However, no reddening flesh where damaged eliminated A. rubescens and the cap colour showed no grey tints typical of A. excelsa. At home they were already deteriorating but the spores and yellow veil fitted well with A. franchetii - new to Penny and apparently to the county. Photo 3 was from this same site the following day when visited by Jesper Launder, confirming Penny's ID.
Amanita fulva (Tawny Grisette)
Jul 7, 2023. In a grassy Beech grove at Burnham Beeches this early fresh specimen was just emerging after recent rain, recognisable from its cap colour though the flecks of veil had clearly been washed off. Penny hadn't the heart to extract it to reveal the volva at its base but we have other examples which show this and will no doubt be featuring this common species again.
May 19, 2023. At Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens Jesper Launder and Sarah Ebdon found several early fruiting mushrooms of which this Amanita was one. It often occurs under Birch as it was here and is very common in late summer / early autumn but this is our earliest record by some weeks.
Jul 12, 2021. In Burnham Beeches under Birch and Pine Penny found just one specimen of this common Amanita which often fruits early in the season. Features to look for: the lack of veil flecks on the cap which has a distinctly fluted margin, the tapering stem which lacks a ring and has (if carefully extricated) a fragile saclike volva flecked with the tawny cap colour. If you find one with the above features but a pure white volva you probably have something much more interesting!
Jun 26, 2021. When walking in Chalfont St. Giles Jesper Launder spotted this early fruiting Amanita species just emerging. Here the volva at the stem base with its chestnut rim can be seen as the stem stem evxpands, note also the patch of veil still in tact on the cap though once mature the veil has usually disappeared. This is one of the genus which lacks a ring on the stem which is usually tapering upwards once the fruit body is fully expanded. Common under Birch and often early in the season, this species can also be found under other deciduous trees.
Sep 15, 2020. This common species was widespread today under mixed deciduous trees at Burnham Beeches, found by Penny Cullington. A delicate Amanita, the stem tapers upwards, lacks a ring and has a flimsy volva which is easily damaged on collection and is tinged with the fulvous brown of the cap. The cap is shiny, has a striate edge and can sometimes have remnants of white veil (not seen in the photo here). There are other less common but similar species of Amanita which lack a ring; note the intense cap colour, brown tints on the volva and lack of markings on the stem to separate this particular species.
Amanita junquillea (Jewelled Amanita)
Aug 11, 2023. In Bow Brickhill churchyard Justin Long found this rare and beautiful Amanita under Pine in almost the exact spot where he recalls finding it many years ago. The species favours conifers in sandy soils, hence our very few county records are from the north of the county. It has a ring but often loses it early on - there's no sign of it here - and a small round bulb with can have veil remnants attaching to it as here and which make it appear similar to the sac of a Grisette (hence Penny had strong doubts about this specimen till it had been further investigated). The beautiful yellow cap with darker centre and usually with white veil flecks is distinctive, however, also the stem is quite thick and chunky unlike that of the Grisettes. Justin carefully checked the spores which also confirmed the ID. This is a new species for Finds.
Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)
Oct 22, 2023. At last this charismatic mushroom is now busy fruiting under Birch, here found by Penny at Turville Heath. She was, however, particularly pleased to see just 6 inches away this comparatively insignificant tan-coloured Bolete accompanying it as it often does. The relationship between these two entirely unrelated species has long been recognised though not fully understood: they are both often found growing apart but the number of times they're together has to be more than a coincidence. See the Masterlist for more images of both species mostly without their partner though 2020 September 12th is of an impressive collection of both together at this same site.
Dec 6, 2022. Claire Williams was delighted to find this common species still making an appearance under Birch at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens and couldn't resist the photo! Penny included the species in Finds on November 27th, commenting on the fact that this was notable so late in the season, but today's find beats that record easily!
Nov 27, 2022. Well, this small singleton was a welcome surprise under Birch at Turville Heath, found by Penny. Browsing through the couple of hundred odd county records in our database the latest autumn date the species has been recorded was November 13th - two years ago at this same site! Can we take this as yet another indication that the main fruiting season for fungi is gradually moving later in the year?
Oct 19, 2022. At Dancersend our small group found a few of these beauties when we were under Birch, though it was the only species of Amanita we saw - they've generally been really scarce so far this autumn. the photo is Claire Williams's.
Sep 24, 2022. Under the Birches in Pullingshill Wood Penny found several undeveloped 'buttons' of this species and eventually a couple of more mature specimens. Though not the greatest image here, it serves to show that this - together with several other Amanitas - is now beginning to fruit.
Oct 15, 2021. We have one earlier photo of this quite common but eye catching species (dated Oct 5th) and it seems to be be making a somewhat late appearance this autumn. Here it is again, found at Cadmore End by Penny under Birch - its host tree - and looking as if the fairies could be lurking somewhere near!
Oct 5, 2021. At Turville Heath things have at last started to appear after the recent rather belated rain. Amongst a good many other species (seen below) Penny was delighted to find her first Fly Agarics of the season just making their appearance under Birch - not the most photogenic collection but nevertheless a sight for sore eyes after the fungal desert of the last few weeks. Note the 'button' on the right which still has the complete universal veil still in tact with no sign of the red to come as it starts to expand, leaving the familiar 'white spots' everyone knows are a feature of this well-known mushroom. Hopefully we'll soon be adding better specimens here to illustrate the species.
Sep 12, 2020. These two species were found fruiting together under Birch at Turville Heath by Penny Cullington. An easily recognisable Amanita (and one of our most familiar fungi) it grows under Birch (and very occasionally under other trees) and is quite often found close together with this particular bolete as here. However, C. piperatus can also be found fruiting separately under other trees. Note its soft brown cap, cinnamon brown pores and bright lemon flesh in the lower stem - all good field characters. Amanita muscaria is DANGEROUSLY POISONOUS
Oct 13, 2020. We have a previous photo of this species - very common this year - dated Sept 12, but Greg Douglas found this fruit body with a perfectly marked cap on a lawn under Birch in Chesham which we thought was worth including. It shows that this eye-catching species is still about though many Amanitas are now over and becoming hard to find.
Amanita olivaceogrisea (a rare Amanita with no common name)
Jul 26, 2023. Under Birch and Hazel in Bernwood Forest Jesper Launder noticed this small delicate greyish brown Grisette which had a notably pure white volva at the stem base. He was unsure of its identity but knew it was likely to be interesting with that combination of characters. On seeing his photos Penny suggested this species having found it on a few occasions, and he readily agreed. The last time we recorded it was in fact at this site in 2021 (see her report on our Bernwood Forest Walk on August 29th where we also found the Ringless Honey Fungus featured below together with several other species found by Jesper here recently).
Amanita pantherina (Panthercap)
Oct 22, 2023. In Captains Wood, Chesham, Greg Douglas spotted this singleton and sent the photo to Penny to see if she agreed that he had the identity correct. The regularly spaced pure white veil flecks certainly looked convincing and she asked him to go back and check that there were no striations visible on the upper ring surface or on the stem above this. (If there had been it would point to the quite similar but considerably more common A. excelsa var spissa). On returning he found the specimen kicked over but with no such markings present, confirming his original ID. The same day Richard Donnelly sent in photos of this same species found near Cadmore End. So conditions are clearly triggering this species into action now.
Aug 19, 2023. In Rushbeds Wood in a grassy path edge under Oak this small button was just emerging, its perfect regular white markings indicating the likelihood that it was this species rather than A. excelsa v. spissa - often mistaken for it. Even at this stage the volva appeared more formed and distinct than in that species, and at home Penny broke the button open to check for the striation markings above the ring on the stem - imprinted even at this stage by the adjacent gills in that species but missing in A. pantherina. They were missing. This is a useful way to split these two species if in doubt.
Jul 26, 2023. In Bernwood Forest under Oak and Birch Jesper Launder found several examples of this occasional species - these two were the best. Despite this being one of our most dangerously poisonous mushrooms (to humans), photo 1 shows some rodent has been enjoying a good nibble! As the forest was not dotted about with dead squirrels and mice one has to assume they are unaffected by its toxins. The species is not that common but possibly over-recorded in place of A. excelsa - for more on how to separate the two species see the notes on our three previous Finds entries - but there's no doubt about today's examples which is showing the typical white isolated regular veil patches on the brown cuticle.
Sep 24, 2022. In Pullingshill Wood Penny found this cluster just emerging under Beech. Though quite similar to the much more common A. excelsa (Grey Spotted Amanita) today's species has small bright white 'spots' which form a fairly symetrical pattern on the cap, in contrast the the grey larger rather erratic patches of veil found on A. excelsa – though the two are often confused. As with all members of this genus, the veil spots rub off easily (hence are sometimes absent especially after rain). A. pantherina is one of the most poisonous in the genus. See images of both species on Finds to compare, using the Masterlist.
Oct 30, 2021. In Downley Woods Claire Williams found and also correctly identified this species - one which is much rarer than is realised. It is also surprisingly late in the season for the genus to be fruiting though we also found this species a day later on our Walk in Bittam's Wood, Dancersend. It is likely that at least some records for Panthercap may well have been the very common A. excelsa var. spissa (Grey-spotted Amanita) which is regularly mistaken for it in the field. Features which separate them: (1) white small raised regularly patterned flecks of veil (not really spots!) on Panthercap as opposed to grey larger irregular patches easily rubbed off; (2) a bulbous volva with a distinct 'lip' in Panthercap as opposed to a volva swollen but not bulbous or with a 'lip', as in Blusher; (3) a fleeting ring with no striations on its upper surface in Panthercap as opposed to a more substantial ring, striate on the upper surface; (4) no smell in Panthercap as opposed to a 'raddishy' smell similar to that of False Deathcap.
Sep 11, 2020. This collection was found under Beech in Kingswood, Tylers Green by Penny Cullington and later carefully checked to ensure that it was not the common A. excelsa which is often misnamed as this species. Differences to look out for: the cap veil patches are white, not grey as in A. excelsa and more regularly spaced; the ring is lower down the stem and smooth with no striations (fine lines) as in A. excelsa; the flowerpot-like volva at the stem base has a clear rim and above this are some fleecy remains, all features differing from A. excelsa. The clincher: the spores do not stain blue with Melzers reagent but do so in A. excelsa. THIS SPECIES IS DANGEROUSLY POISONOUS.
Amanita phalloides and var. alba (Deathcap)
Oct 20, 2023. Under Oak in Apsley Wood Justin Long found these photogenic specimens - the first time he's seen the species here despite many previous visits over the years. These seem to be a particularly sickly yellowish green and have impressive white volvas at their base with a large gutter - a sure sign of the species.
Aug 16, 2023. In Gussett's Wood Penny and Paul found this immature bunch of Deathcaps just emerging under Beech and looking very pale but with enough green tinge and a suitably large volva to make the ID obvious. The following day Penny received photo 2 from Jackie Newcombe found in Lotts Wood, the same species but not showing the typical greenish tinge owing to Jackie's phone struggling with the poor light! She assured me that it was in reality much greener and the volva shape is spot on to confirm it. Then four days later Greg Douglas sent in photo 3 found at Hockeridge Wood which is surely this same species but the much rarer var. alba. To check that it wasn't the white and equally dangerously toxic A. virosa - very rare in the county - he applied a drop of KOH to the cap which instead of turning golden yellow remained unchanged, thus disproving that possibility. This was a nice find though sadly is not recognised as a separate species in its own right."
Sep 24, 2022. Pullingshill Wood regularly produces good numbers of this common but deadly poisonous Amanita, and Penny found just one specimen today under Birch and Beech. Thought the cap colour is quite variable which can be confusing, the large envelope-like volva at the stem base with a loose rim should separate it from other pale capped species, particularly A. citrina (False Deathcap). The smells of these two species are also quite different: sharp and of potato peelings in A. citrina but sickly sweet in A. phalloides. We have quite a few imagesin Finds, located from the Masterlist.
Sep 11, 2020. This collection was found under Beech in Kingswood, Tylers Green by Penny Cullington. As its common name suggests, THIS SPECIES IS DEADLY POISONOUS but is relatively common in our Beechwoods. Some species of Russula can have a similar green cap and white gills but never have a ringed stem or a large volva with a clear gutter around it at the stem base. The ring on the broken specimen in this photo has remained adhered to cap edge rather than to the stem.
Amanita rubescens (Blusher)
Aug 3, 2023. In Lye Green Greg Douglas came across this amazing 'tethered ring' of Blushers around the outer canopy of an Oak, something Penny has not seen before. The close-up (photo 2) shows proof of its identity.
Jul 21, 2023. In Cadmore End Penny noted the mown grass but luckily there was one unscathed mushroom in a small patch obviously deliberately left! This was a rather faded Blusher open to the elements but near to Oak and Beech with a rather slug-eaten button nearby which served to show the pink blushing where damaged. Slugs had also had a go at the stem below the ring where the striations typical of the species are to be seen above it.
Sep 24, 2022. At Cadmore End Penny found several patches of this species under the Oaks, one which is at last beginning to fruit in good numbers. The two images are an attempt to show how much variation in cap colour there can be, depending on whether they are exposed to sunlight or not. The more light they get, the paler the caps can be but the pink stem bases are a sure indication of the species.
Oct 9, 2021. Claire Williams found this specimen in Tinkers Wood - normally a very common species but no Amanitas seem very common this autumn so far. Her photo shows one particularly interesting feature: not only is it going distinctly pink everywhere but above the ring are clear pink striations. These are caused early on in its development when the gills and veil are compacted together, thus when it expands the gill pattern leaves this striate impression on either the upper ring surface or above it. Often it is white but less often pink. This striation is a useful identification feature to look for when splitting two other Amanita species which are regularly confused: A. excelsa var spissa (common) and A. pantherina (rare). A. pantherina lacks striations above or on the ring but they are present, as here, in A. excelsa.
Jun 22, 2021. In Stoke Common Jesper Launder came across this early fruiting Amanita species - often one of the first of this genus to make an appearance as we approach the autumn season. Our decidedly damp June has certainly triggered some response from such species so anything might turn up: Amanita, Boletoid species and Russula are all genera to keep an eye out for at this time if conditions are favourable. To recognise the Blusher note the tell tale pink staining around the damaged part of the cap in the photo, also the loose flecks of whitish veil which often get washed off by rain. Then underneath (not visible here) the white gills and large ring on the stem which often stains pink also.
Sep 4, 2020. One of the earliest fruiting and most common Amanitas, this was found in Bradenham Woods by Penny Cullington under Oak and Beech. Note the typical features of the genus together with the pink stains of this species which develop where damaged. Compare also with the similar A. excelsa which always lacks pink stains.
Amanita rubescens var. annulosulphurea (Blusher)
Apr 26, 2024. In Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens Penny was surprised when she spotted this very early fruiting Amanita in grass under Lime. Thinking it was possibly A. excelsa from the brown cap colour and lack of pink in the nibbled parts, she was further surprised when turning it over revealed not only the telltale signs of pink staining thus separating it from A. excelsa but also a clearly yellowish rather than white ring - hence the varietal name here. (Sadly the yellow does not show up well in photos but her companions agreed with the ID at the time!). We have hundreds of records of the Blusher (both varieties) and glancing though them it is noticeable how the very few June records start to increase in the last 15 years when just three May records also occur (none before this). However this is a first for April! What's more, photo 3 is of the same species found by Jesper Launder in nearby Sefton Park just two days earlier.
Nov 17, 2021. In Pullingshill Wood Penny was surprised to find this almost perfect and fresh specimen of a species normally fruiting mainly from July to September! Unfortunately as she was about to take a close-up of the ring and gills it rolled off the trunk where she'd placed it and smashed! Nevertheless, photo 3 still shows an interesting feature of the species not often noticed: the upper ring and stem above it have distinct striations caused when the young gills are compressed against it before expansion starts. This also occurs in Amanita excelsa (Grey-spotted Amanita) but not in A. pantherina (Panthercap) and is a useful way to separate those two species which often cause confusion.
Jul 12, 2021. Under Oak in Burnham Beeches Penny found a couple of specimens of this species though neither looked very typical. A. rubescens often confuses people if just the cap colour and markings are observed because they can be so variable, and from a distance today's looked more like A. fulva with brown shades. Close to, however, the scaly cap surface and lack of fluting at the edge eliminated that species (compare with the photos of A. fulva also found today) and when the stem was exposed it was obvious from the skirtlike ring with striations on the upper surface (see photo 3) and pink staining at the swollen base that it was a Blusher. In this particular case the ring was clearly primrose yellow rather than white, hence the varietal name given here - not rare but certainly much less common than the type species.
Amanita strobiliformis (Warted Amanita)
Oct 29, 2023. At the Waterworks at Dancersend Mick Jones noticed this cluster at the bottom of a roadside hedge with Beech and Hazel nearby. He'd not seen the species at Dancersend before though it favours chalky soils on sloping sites. We have a dozen or so county records, the vast majority being from Pulpit Hill - another very chalky hill site. This is a distinctive and quite unusual white Amanita - one of our largest species with large warts and flocks on the cap and stem but no volva at its base.
Aug 1, 2023. In Jordans village under Beech Jesper Launder was surprised to find this unusual Amanita just emerging, having not found it in these parts before. Similar to A. solitaria (previously A. echinocephala), the two species share greyish white caps with a good covering of large veil remnants which appear as scales though can be rubbed off, they are large for the genus and lack a volva as such though the stem base of A. solitaria is distinctly scaly also. Today's species can get to a good size and tends to become misshapen and irregular as it expands, also the veil remnants are larger and more isolated than in the other species. Neither are very common but favour calcareous soil in woodland edges. This is a new entry for Finds.
Amanita submembranacea (an unusual Amanita with no common name)
Aug 12, 2023. Under Hornbeam at Turville Heath Penny stumbled across this quite large and uncommon Grisette type and carefully extricated the volva which would be critical to its ID. Several of these Grisettes (Amanitas with no ring) are very easy to confuse, especially A. vaginata and today's species. Microscopic differences are negligable but the brownish cap (rather than greyish in A. vaginata), also the clear 'double volva' with a somewhat grey inner part finally confirmed it. Penny then read that a drop of phenol on the stem flesh turned slowly wine red in this species and this also checked out. We have just a handful of previous county sites, and this is a first entry for Finds.
Amanita vaginata (Grisette)
Oct 21, 2021. In Mousells Wood under Beech Penny noticed two very pale Amanitas, one still only a button, and carefully extracted the larger specimen in order to preserve the volva (sac) at the stem base which can be diagnostic in the genus. The cap was almost white, tempting one to speculate that it might possibly be the extremely rare A. virosa (Destroying Angel) - new to the county last autumn from Hodgemoor Woods. The volva, however, was far too flimsy and obviously of the sort found in the Grisette group of Amanitas (of which the commonest is A. fulva - Tawny Grisette). With a white flimsy volva and an almost white cap this had to be a rather pale example of the elegant A. vaginata, normally much greyer than this and not very common.
Oct 12, 2020. Paul Cullington found this young and quite unusual Amanita under Beech in Gussetts Wood (photo Penny Cullington). Closely related to the much more common Amanita fulva (see photo dated Sept 15) and rarer Amanita crocea (see photo dated Sept 18), this is one of the Amanitas which lacks a ring on the stem and has a thin fragile membranous volva. Note also the clear striations on the edge of the cap already clearly developed here. It tends to be larger than A. fulva but the diagnostic feature is the grey cap colour despite the top of the volva showing the same fulvous brown tints as that species and visible here having been left on the edge of the cap in photo 1 and on the stem in photo 2.
Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel)
Sep 18, 2020. This distinctly northern species is known from extremely few sites in S. England, and was found today, new to the county, at Hodgemoor Wood by Paul Cullington under Beech (photos Penny Cullington) - the find of the season so far for Penny. This Amanita has a pure white cap which is smooth, silky and sticky (unusual for the genus), a stem with a large white ring (not yet visible here) and a large white floppy fragile volva (much in evidence here). This immature singleton had no gills visible and on close inspection they were covered by the ring which still adhered to the cap and had not yet dropped to the stem. The definitive test to confirm the identity of this rarity (quite frequently claimed but practically always in error for A. citrina, particularly the completely white form of that species) is to place a drop of the chemical reagent KOH on the cap which uniquely turns instantly bright yellow (see second photo for the proof!). (See also A. citrina for comparison, dated today.)
THIS SPECIES IS DEADLY POISONOUS
Ampulloclitocybe clavipes (Club Foot)
Nov 8, 2023. In mossy litter in Bernwood Forest Chris Grimbly noticed this occasional species, very similar to the genus Clitocybe (where it originally resided) but with thick flesh in the centre of the cap, also a darkish stem having a swollen base - hence its common name. It favours grassy path edges in woodland clearings. Though not rare this seems to be a new entry for Finds.
Antherospora hortensis (a Smut with no English name)
Apr 2, 2024. On a visit to Bekonscot with her daughter, Sarah Ebdon - who'd been told by Jesper Launder to check any Grape Hyacinth flowers by giving them a gentle shake - eventually after much trial and error (and a rather embarrassed daughter!) struck lucky and was rewarded by a deposit of brown spores on her hand! This recently described Smut species is host specific to Grape Hyacinth, is so far rarely recorded (with no FRDBI entries) and is new to the county.
Anthracobia macrocystis (an Ascomycete with no common name)
May 26, 2021. Joanna Dodsworth found these tiny red cups on burnt ground in Brill Common. Not unlike a small example of Common Eyelash (see an example dated May 28th) in general appearance, it lacks the distinctive dark hairs around the rim, never gets as large as the Eyelash and under the scope is very different. It is one of quite a few different fungi associated with old bonfire sites or ground previously burnt - a substrate always worth a close inspection for fungi when you come across it.
Arachnopeziza aurata (an Ascomycete with no common name)
May 5, 2021. On the underside of an Oak stick in the Mire at Burnham Beeches Penny found this unusual species. Identified in the field (and confirmed later with a scope) by expert Kerry Robinson, the colony of tiny white cups (less than 0.5mm across) are enveloped in pale cobwebby mesh which Penny assumed was a different fungus. Not so. This is in fact a fine network of hyphae and characteristic of the genus - hence the reference to both spiders' webs and cup fungi in the genus name. The species can be found at all times of year on rotting damp deciduous wood though is not common and this find was a first for the site and for the county. (The photo is Claudi Soler's.)
Arcyria cinerea (a Slime Mould with no common name)
Jun 11, 2023. On a deciduous log in Naphill Common Sarah Ebdon found the tiny white species amongst several other things and thoroughly dwarfed but the neighbouring mushroom (not identified but the serrated gill edge suggests Lentinellus?!). This was not a species she was familiar with, but from photo 1 Penny suspected A. cinerea though it was immature, and when photo 2 came in a few days later she was happy to confirm it. A typical Arcyria, like a miniscule loofah, the greyish white colour together with the distinctive pleated 'cup' at the base of the fluffy sporangia is sufficient to identify it by. See also in Finds 2022 November 10th.
Nov 10, 2022. In Round Spring Wood, Dancersend, Barry Webb found several Slime Moulds, this being one particularly photogenic little group. These are fully mature, past the slimy stage and like minature loofahs sitting on tiny cups, the whole probably less than 5 mm tall. There are many different species of Arcyria, this one being recognisable from its shape and colour. It appears to be a first for Finds though Barry's separate page has further examples.
Arcyria denudata (a Slime Mould with no common name)
Jul 26, 2023. In Burnham Beeches Barry Webb found this little beauty on some very wet soggy rotten wood. The species is quite common if you know where to look and are prepared to search for tiny things with a x 10 lens and a torch!
Oct 12, 2020. This stunning photo was taken by Barry Webb of a collection on fallen Beech in Burnham Beeches. Like most Slime Moulds, this species starts out as a cluster of slimy white blobs (the plasmodium stage) when identification even to genus is not possible. As it matures it dries off and forms these remarkable miniature 'loofahs' on shiny red stalks, the whole being 6 mms high at most! There are quite a few species of Arcyria, some rare, some common as is this one, but none are quite so eye-catching. Note how the stalk develops into a cup which supports the spore mass column, seen here in various stages of maturity.
Arcyria ferruginea (a slime mould with no common name)
Mar 13, 2024. The previous day a small group of us found a few fungi at Burnham Beeches, one being this Slime Mould to which Barry Webb returned today to check its identity and take his photo. This is a good example of the mature stage of the genus Arcyria (when not slimy at all!) showing in the background the fine mesh of fluffy 'elaters' which form the protective framework containing the spores which here have almost entirely blown away. Note also the now empty cups - all that is left of the entire sporangia (fruiting body) once the rest has blown away.
Dec 1, 2023. Chris Grimbly found this impressive large colony (still at the plasmodium stage) on damp rotten deciduous wood in Bernwood Forest. He obtained a possible ID by posting his photos on a facebook page, the ID later supported by Barry Webb when Penny asked for his opinion also. Few slime moulds can be safely identified when at this stage of development but it appears that the pink colour of this species makes it one of them, though it is somewhat similar to the much more common Trichia decipiens which, however, tends to form smaller colonies and is bright orange at this stage rather than pink as here (though as it matures and starts to dry off the bright pink fades to more orange beige - photo 4 was taken a couple of days later). Both tend to have white stems also. This is a new entry for Finds.
Arcyria nutans (= obvelata) (A Slime Mould with no common name)
Jul 3, 2021. In Jordans village Jesper Launder spotted this cluster of tiny 'loofahs' on a damp wooden post in his garden. This species seems to be appearing in several places at the moment and is quite an easy one to recognise, the typical loofahs of the genus being in this case rather drooping and a distinctive pale buff colour.
Jun 23, 2021. At Stoke Common there was surprisingly little fungi about today despite the recent rain, but one that Penny found on an unidentified bare rotting log was this rather droopy species of Arcyria - an apt name for the genus would be Loofah but as with the majority of Slime Moulds no common name exists. The pale buff colour, very short stalks and flimsy heads which soon blow away when mature are characters which distinguish it from other species in the field. Apparently quite common, we have just two previous county records from Penn Wood but it seems to be new for today's site. See also amongst Barry Webbs Slime Mould photos.
Arcyria oerstedii (a rare Slime Mould with no common name)
Apr 29, 2023. At Burnham Beeches prior to our BFG Walk Barry Webb found this somewhat drooping species on some damp bare fallen wood. He suspected right away that it was unusual as the only other Arcyria known to droop, A. obvelata - a fairly common species he knows well, is yellow with no pink as seen here. Myxo guru Edvin Johanessen, when consulted and on seeing the photo, suggested it might be A. oerstedii which Barry then confirmed by checking the microscopic details. This is new to the county with only 60 UK records on FRDBI but was identified too late to make Penny's Burnham Beeches report, hence its inclusion here.
Armillaria gallica (Bulbous Honey Fungus)
Oct 10, 2021. In Downley Woods Claire Williams noticed these young mushrooms and was unsure of their identity. There are three very similar Honey Fungus species, all having scaly brown caps and a ring on the stem (here seen still covering the gills as veil in photo 2). This particular species tends to have yellow on the stem (often towards the base but here high up) and the base is swollen to almost bulbous - hence its common name.
Nov 1, 2020. Penny C. had thought it was now too late to find this species to compare with A. mellea which finished fruiting a week or so ago. However, on the edge of Winchmore Hill Common under Oak she found these examples. In contrast to A. mellea, this species of Honey Fungus has a swollen stem base which develops yellow tints (in A. mellea the stem is cylindrical with no yellow at the base). The cap tends to be darker brown, lacks the yellow tones of A. mellea and has more distinct scales. The stem ring can have a few darker flecks on the underside as seen here, but do not confuse with A. ostoyae - a third similar but rarer species which has a distinct row of darker scales on the ring underside, lacks the swollen stem base which furthermore does not develop yellow tints. See photos of A. mellea to compare, dated Sept 27.
Armillaria mellea (Honey Fungus)
Sep 4, 2021. Under mixed trees in the wooded edge of Stampwell Farm Jackie Ewan found this attractive but unwelcome cluster just emerging. The species is a serious parasite on many trees and shrubs, spreading from plant to plant via its thick black leathery 'bootlace-like' mycelium - often found on its own (see photo 2 taken by Paul Goby this February). Other species of the genus also have a ring on the stem as here but are not such a threat, this one distinguished from them by its unswollen stem base with no yellow.
Sep 27, 2020. Penny Cullington found large quantities of this common fungus growing typically tightly clustered on and around a fallen Beech at Pullingshill Wood. A species no one wants to find in their garden, it is one which attacks and kills trees and shrubs, spreading via long black bootlace-like mycelial threads which one can often see on the surface of bare trunks when no fruit bodies are around. To tell A. mellea from the several other species in the genus, all but one of which have a ring as here, note the long cylindrical stem with no yellowing or swelling towards the base. Only this species is so dangerous to plants.
Armillaria ostoyae (Dark Honey Fungus)
Nov 3, 2021. In Hodgemoor Woods Penny came across this clump of mushrooms on an Oak stump and at first glance thought it was a species of Pholiota but on second glance realised it was probably Honey Fungus. Turning one over to check the underside revealed semi-decurrent cream gills (too pale for Pholiota) and a ring with dark scales on its undersurface typical of this species - much less common than A. mellea or A. gallica. The cap is also darker than the other two mentioned with darker scales there too. Thought to occur mainly on conifer, it seems just as happy on deciduous trees and grows in tight clusters at or around their base.
Jan 17, 2022. In Burnham Beeches Penny noticed a fallen Beech trunk with good examples of the shiny black 'bootlaces' typical of Honey Fungus running both through the rotting wood and just under the bark and visible in a thick tangle (photo 3) where the bark had come off. The mycelium of most fungi is thin, white, feathery and delicate but this parasitic genus has developed these distinctive thick tough mycelial threads which enable it to spread rapidly and very successfully. This is one of the few genera identifiable from its mycelium though not to species, hence the 'sp' in the heading. (There are various entries available in the previous Finds pages of Armillaria fruitbodies.)
Feb 10, 2021. In Naphill Common on a barkless Beech trunk Paul Goby noticed these telltale black 'bootlaces' - indicators of a species of Armillaria (likely to be either A. mellea or A. gallica, both of which are common). Fungal mycelium performs a similar function to plant roots, is usually white and forms a finely feathery network of hyphal strands which weave their way through the substrate / soil providing nutrients and also the main method of proliferation for any species. The exceptional thick black mycelium of Armillaria is presumably a large factor in the success of this genus in spreading from dead to living wood and, in the case of A. mellea, causing disease and death amongst many shrubs in private gardens.
Armillaria tabescens (Ringless Honey Fungus)
Sep 28, 2020. Penny Cullington found several tight clusters of this unusual species just beginning to emerge, apparently in soil but probably on Oak roots, at Rushbeds Wood. Like a small A. mellea (see photo dated Sept 27th) having a cylindrical stem, it differs from all other woodland Armillaria species by the complete absence of a ring on the stem
Arrhenia peltigerina (a species of Navel with no common name)
Nov 26, 2022. At Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens Russell Ness found this unusual and seldom recorded species which is associated with the lichen Peltigera - visible in his photos. Our only previous county record is Russell's from Cliveden (see Nov 6, 2021). We hope to get a sample from today's collection sequenced to confirm his ID.
Nov 6, 2021. At Cliveden Estate Russell Ness discovered this rare little 'Omphaloid' fungus found only in association with Peltigera (Dog Lichen species), here just visible amongst the mosses in photo 1. Photo 2 shows the distinctive strongly decurrent and widely spaced gills. New to the county and with not many UK records, this was an exciting find confirmed by microscopic characters by Russell later at home.
Arrhenia retiruga (Small Moss Oysterling)
Dec 17, 2023. In North Dean Sarah Ebdon's sharp eyes picked out this unusual moss inhabiting species and recognised the genus from previous experience though this collection appeared much bigger than she expected for this particular species. A scope confirmed it, however. We have just a handful of county records.
Jan 1, 2022. In her mossy lawn at home in Brill Joanna found good numbers of this unusual species which seems to be having a bumper fruiting season.
Dec 3, 2021. In Lacey Green Churchyard Sarah Ebdon noticed this unusual and insignificant little fungus growing on the moss. This is a parasitic pale grey Basidiomycete and only found on moss, often late in the year; it lacks a stem and proper gills which are reduced to shallow wrinkles at most. Described as widespread but not often reported, we have only a handful of county records and none in the last 10 years, so this was a nice find.
Arrhenia rickenii (Moss Navel)
Apr 1, 2023. In the grounds of the Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross, Jesper Launder noticed this crop of little beauties growing in a patch of moss. The caps can get to about 2 cm across and their funnel shape with widely spaced decurrent gills are typical.
Nov 26, 2022. At Little Brickhill Churchyard Stephen Plummer noticed this tiny umbilicate species just visible in a patch of thick moss (photo1). This is a rare species (we have just one previous county record) though is easily missed for obvious reasons. It is saprophytic on moss, one of several such species associated with moss, lichen and liverworts, often needing care to identify taking note of the specific host species.
Nov 30, 2020. Russell Ness found this tiny and rare Omphaloid mushroom amongst moss alongside the Jubilee River in Dorney. When keying it out, however, he found the spore shape and size fell between two rather similar species and that some features matched one better, some features the other! On balance we've decided upon the less rare of the two but are leaving this as cf rickenii until the dried specimen can be sequenced to tell us more accurately what it is. Whatever it is, it will be an exciting new record for the county.
Arrhenia spathulata (a fungus with no common name)
Dec 21, 2020. In Dorney Wetlands near the Jubilee River (right on the Bucks / Berkshire border) Russell Ness found this unusual little agaric fungus amongst moss. The genus Arrhenia is a large one with about 50 species, many of which are rare and grow in association with various specific mosses. Though new to the county, A. spathulata is widespread but only occurs in heathland / unimproved grassland where suitable mosses occur. It is typically fan-shaped, only up to about 2 cm tall, and lacks true gills having merely wrinkles underneath. (Compare with Arrhenia rickenii, also found by Russell at this site, dated Nov 30.)
Ascocoryne cylichnium (a species of Purple Jellydisc)
Dec 17, 2023. On a very rotten deciduous log in North Dean Sarah Ebdon noticed this species - extremely similar to the more common A. sarcoides (Purple Jellydisc) which we record regularly. However, she recognised that it was larger, flatter and looking different from the commoner species so checked the spores later which proved her correct - this species has considerably larger spores than the commoner species. She comments that both this collection and others she's found of this species tend to look pinker than A. sarcoides and more like fried bacon. The sharp-eyed amongst you will notice a second species in Sarah's photos.
Jan 19, 2023. On very decomposed wet Willow in Hughenden Park Sarah Ebdon spotted this small gelatinous 'piece of bacon' - her description, recognised it as similar to the common A. sarcoides but it looked rather different. Though only 13mm across it was clearly flatter and and less 'lumpy', more disc-like than the commoner species, so Sarah took it home where the spore size - considerably larger in this species than in A. sarcoides - confirmed her suspicions. Both species are common though this one is far less often recorded because it is all too easy to make the assumption in the field that it is the better known species of the two. See the Masterlist for further images of both species for comparison.
Jan 17, 2022. On a bare patch on a fallen rotting Birch trunk in Burnham Beeches Penny noticed several clusters of this small reddish-purple gelatinous ascomycete and as it appeared to be forming small cups she took it home to check whether it was the more commonly recorded A. sarcoides (Purple Jellydisc) or the possibly equally common but sometimes probably misnamed A. cylichnium. The two are described as more or less identical in the field, separable only by the markedly larger spores of today's species, but if it grows bigger and becomes cup-shaped it often seems to turn out to have the larger spores as did today's collection. See examples of A. sarcoides in Finds 2020 October 06, 18 & November 16, also 2021 November 17th (though this last was not checked and looks quite possibly like A. cylichnium!)
Ascocoryne sarcoides (Purple Jellydisc)
Oct 12, 2022. On a mossy sawn off end of Hazel at Dancersend Claire Williams spotted these very small specimens. This is a common and distinctive Ascomycete often though not exclusively found on fallen Beech. When on that substrate one needs to take care not to confuse it with the larger and paler Neobulgaria pura (Beech Jellydisc). See the Finds Masterlist fo examples of both species to compare. (The photo is Neil Fletcher's.)
Nov 17, 2021. On a bare Beech trunk in Pullingshill Wood Penny noticed quantities of this small Ascomycete bubbling up through the surface. Its common name describes the colour and the texture well, but do not confuse with Neobulgaria pura (Beech Jellydisc)! Both occur on Beech (though A. sarcoides can also be found on other deciduous woods) and have a gelatinous texture, but N. pura is much paler - never as dark and normally some shade of pink - and is also larger. (See dated Aug 23rd and Oct 5th for comparison).
Nov 16, 2020. This is another species we already have (See Oct 06 and 18 for more details) but this was a particularly photogenic patch on a bare Beech log in Hockeridge Wood, found by Derek Schafer.
Oct 6, 2020. Penny Cullington was surprised to find this species on woody remnants in an old bonfire site at Wotton Park Estate. Conspicuous by its absence so far this season, it is normally one of the commonest Ascomycetes to be found on fallen Beech (a tree hardly present at this site) but can occur on other hardwoods. Only separable with certainty from the almost identical A. cylichnium by its much smaller spores it is by far the commoner of the two species. Another gelatinous Asco to be aware of but a bit larger and paler is Neobulgaria pura (Beech Jellydisc) though it forms more distinct raised clustered discs than our species today.
Aspropaxillus giganteus (Giant Funnel)
Oct 13, 2023. On a roadside verge in Chalfont St. Peter Jesper Launder recognised this impressive species - one of our largest mushrooms with a stocky white stem, white decurrent gills and a dry white cap to match. Previously in genus Leucopaxillus it is a species Penny has never found in the county though has seen just over the border into Berkshire. We have just one previous record since 2000 with two doubtful records prior to that, so this was a nice find and another new entry for Finds.
Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback)
Aug 28, 2023. In Bernwood Forest Chris Grimbly found this quite unusual 'mushroom growing on a mushroom' - one of two similar and closely related species which grow only on old rotting soggy Russula nigricans (Blackening Brittlegill). In some years we never see either at all and we only have a few previous sightings from 4 county sites, only one of those from as early as August. The Russula host is one of our commonest Brittlegills but conditions need to be suitably soggy for it to have become suitably decomposed before this parasitic fungus will fruit and usually this would be later in the season. So this - and also the smooth capped A. parasitica - are well worth looking out for now when you come across the black remains of R. nigricans. Photo 3 was taken by Penny at this same site two days later when both Asterophora species were found (see August 30th).
Nov 20, 2022. At Burnham Beeches our small group found a large black rotting mushroom with widely spaced gills, nameable even in this state as Russula nigricans (Blackening Brittlegill). What's more, on closer inspection and with delight two tiny white mushrooms were spotted growing on it! This particular Russula species is well known as the best host (when old and really rotten) to find two similar species of 'fungi growing on other fungi'; in some years they are hard to find, in others they're quite common - in fact we found both species today so maybe 2022 will be a 'good year'. The cap surface of this particular species is covered in tiny star-shaped 'chlamidophores' which give it a distinctly dusty appearance (similar to that found on a Puffball - hence the reference to Lycoperdon in its Latin species name) and visible in photo 2. (The photos are Stephen Plummer's.) The species was new for the site and is also a new entry for Finds.
Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback)
Aug 30, 2023. Having been alerted to the very early fruiting of this unusual genus at Bernwood Forest (see the first entry for August 28th just two days ago) Penny and Paul came looking for it here and were not disappointed! They found literally hundreds of old black Russula nigricans (the host species for Asterophora) and growing on them many examples of Asterophora lycoperdoides with its buff coloured fluffy caps (Finds Aug 28th) now fully mature. Careful searching produced also just a very few examples of A. parasitica - clearly only just beginning to fruit with only this one example showing gills. However, even when tiny as seen here the smooth caps are distinct and a different colour from the fluffy caps of the other species of this genus. See the Masterlist for our few other examples, all from November which is when one would expect to start looking for either species of Asterophora which require the rotting remains of R. nigricans to grow on.
Nov 20, 2022. At Burnham Beeches our small group found a second rotting specimen of Russula nigricans (see the entry above also) and quickly noticed that this time we also had growing on it the second Piggyback species which frequents this Russula when old and decaying. The fruitbodies were bigger and more developed than the find above (though still pretty tiny) but one can see clearly that the dusty cap covering is missing and replaced by the silky fibrous coating typical of this particular species. (The photos are Stephen Plummer's.)
Nov 16, 2020. We had our first find of this 'fungus growing on a fungus' on Nov 1st and John Catterson, who found today's photogenic collection in Tinkers Wood, was hoping that this would make the second of the two species of this genus which occur on old Brittlegills, thus adding another new name to our list. However, as we are just able to see clearly developed gills in the larger cap, also the cap is lacking the dusting of beige which characterises A. lycoperdoides, we have to assume that this is a repeat of that found on Nov 1st though very nice material because one can clearly still see the form of Russula nigricans on which it is growing. So watch out for two other 'Piggybacks' which could well be about now: A. lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback)has a loose dusty beige covering over the cap and poorly developed gills - not that common, also Volvariella surrecta (Piggyback Rosegill) - much rarer and found on rotting fruit bodies of Clitocybe nebularis.
Nov 1, 2020. This is one of two similar species which Penny C. has been on the look out for because both are only found on rotting specimens of Brittlegills or Milkcaps and most commonly Russula nigricans (Blackening Brittlegill) which has been fruiting in abundance this year. It was found by Russell Ness in Egypt Woods (Burnham Beeches) and I hope we'll have better examples to share now we know that the species are beginning to fruit. The species is aptly named but this rather soggy specimen hardly does it justice. So do take a careful look at the many rotting black fungi under Beech and if you find small white mushrooms growing on them, take careful note of the cap surface because in this species the cap is smooth but A. lycoperdoides has a dusty brownish coating. In some years both species are common, in others they're not seen at all - that's fungi for you!
Aureoboletus gentilis (Gilded Bolete)
Nov 12, 2022. In Bernwood Forest Chris Grimbly found and identified this unusual and eye-catching species for which we have just a handful of records since 2000. It has a slightly sticky cap surface with pink tones, brilliant yellow pores and no part of the fruitbody stains blue when damaged - all features which help to identify it in the field.
Oct 7, 2021. In Rushbeds Wood Penny gave an 'ooh' when she turned this small mushroom over to see the brilliantly bright yellow pores of this small rare Bolete. It favours clay soils and is found under Oak (as here) or Beech, the cap being under 5cm across, sticky to viscid and pink buff, the small pores are golden yellow and unchanging when pressed, and the stem is also yellowish and sticky. It is the sole member of a genus of just two to occur in the UK and we have some older records from Bernwood Forest, also one in 2017 from Finemere Wood, so it was new to the site today.
Auricularia auricula-judae (Jelly Ear)
Mar 12, 2024. At Burnham Beeches our small group found a fresh display of this common species fruiting on fallen bare Elder - its commonest host. It is not unusual to find it on fallen Beech also, and occasionally on other deciduous woods. It is nearly always an easy fungus to recognise from its shape, colour and malleable rubbery texture when fresh, and can be found at any time of year given suitable damp conditions. The photos are Linda Seward's.
Dec 12, 2023. Also in the same dark area of woody debris at Stoke Poges Memorial Gardens Penny found some old deciduous logs lining the path and covered in this species. Most commonly frequenting Elder, it is by no means unusual on other substrates and here the wood could have been Birch? Photo 2 shows the veined underside.
Jul 17, 2023. At Turville Heath Penny noticed this single large ear on fallen Sycamore - an unusual host for this very common species. (Photo 2 shows the paler uneven underside.) We have plenty of images on Finds on various hosts though mostly on Elder - see the Masterlist to locate them.
Jan 2, 2023. In woods near Chalfont St Peter Jim Wills noticed this fresh collection of 'ears' on a fallen trunk - probably Elder but the species does occur on other deciduous woods. Clearly the recent mild damp spell in encouraging a new round of fungal fruiting, particularly of the 'Jelly' Fungi.
Sep 13, 2022. On fallen Beech in Burnham Beeches Penny found these fresh distinctively ear-like jelly fungi. Most commonly found on standing and fallen Elder (hence the reference to Judas in the Latin species name) it is not that unusual on Beech, though it was also reported today growing on Sycamore near Chesham - that is a much more unusual host.
Jan 3, 2022. On a living Elder trunk in Rushbeds Wood Penny found a few species of this species fruiting.
Oct 5, 2021. In Downley Woods Claire Williams found these nice fresh 'ears' just forming on dead Elder. Similar in its soft gelatinous texture and also colour to Neobulgaria pura just above, this is not an Ascomycete but one of a group of Basidiomycete 'Jelly fungi' which lack gills. Very common on Elder, it also occurs on fallen Beech (as the Neobulgaria) but its wrinkled undersurface and typical 'ear' shape should prevent confusion.
Jun 30, 2021. At Turville Heath Penny couldn't resist this very realistic example of a common jelly fungus found often on both living and fallen Elder as it was here. Photo 2 was taken from underneath showing the typical veined surface and thin almost transparent flesh. See also an unusual and beautiful white form of the species, dated Feb 5th.
Jan 8, 2021. Claire Williams noticed these small and somewhat frozen fruit bodies on an unidentified branch in Downley Common Woods (probably Elder but it could be some other tree?). (See also Sept 30th and Oct 25th in Finds 2020 for more info.) It seems that Jelly fungi are quite happy fruiting in this cold spell of winter weather.
Oct 25, 2020. We have a photo of this common species dated Sept 30th, but Penny's collection today on fallen Beech at Ragpits Nature Reserve gave an opportunity to share a more detailed image. The two top specimens show the inside of the 'ear' which is wrinkled and paler than the outside surface. Look for this species on living trunks and branches of Elder or (less commonly) on fallen branches of Beech.
Sep 30, 2020. Sarah Ebdon found this nice collection in Bradenham Wood growing on living Elder. A very common fungus fruiting at any time of year given favourable conditions, it is surprising that this unmistakeable species has been conspicuous by its absence this season until now. It's normal host tree is Elder but it is quite often found on fallen Beech and occasionally on other wood. No further comments needed - the common name says it all!
Auricularia auricula-judae var. lactea (the rare white form of Jelly Ear)
Feb 5, 2021. In Little Stockings Wood near North Dean Sarah Ebdon spotted these stunning specimens of the very common Wood Ear but in its rare white form. (Penny has long wanted to find this and is green with envy!) It was on dead Elder. Sarah commented that she remembers seeing this variety years ago in Chesham Bois but we have no Bucks records of it in our database. Sadly not a species in its own right, it can be seen here in close proximity to the conventional and familiar red-brown 'ears' growing on a dead Elder trunk. What an unexpected and beautiful find.
Auricularia mesenterica (Tripe Fungus)
Jan 17, 2022. Whilst searching for various species which occur with Gorse in Burnham Beeches, Penny came across a broken stump with nice fresh collections of this species, closely related to Jelly Ear though shaped very differently. It is more bracket-like and here forming tiers, the upper surface rather hairy but rubbery gelatinous (photo 3) and sometimes zoned, the underside more wrinkled to veined and becoming darker to purple almost black (photo 4). It is not rare and can occur on various deciduous stumps or dead wood, also shrubs and Gorse as here. See also Finds 2020 October 28th where the zoned upper surface and veined underside is shown well.
Oct 28, 2020. Sarah Ebdon came across this interesting species on a mossy deciduous log in Naphill Common. From above the surface is not unlike one of the slightly hairy and zoned brackets, but turn a bit over and you know you have something completely different! Here the pinkish to purply gelatinous underside is clearly quite similar to that of Jelly Ear (see photo dated Oct 25th) to which it is closely related. It is not that common a species and can be found on fallen deciduous trunks / logs, particularly Beech and Maple.
Auriscalpium vulgare (Earpick Fungus)
Nov 10, 2022. As we moved into an area of conifers at Round Spring Wood, Dancersend, warden Mick Jones handed Penny this exquisite little collection growing on an old mossy Pine cone. She'd never seen more than one specimen on a cone before so to find a cluster was quite special. The species is always a crowd pleaser with its tiny cap having fine teeth underneath in place of gills or pores. It is not uncommon given its specific host - old Pine cones. The photo here is Barry Webb's.
May 10, 2021. Whilst searching amongst Pine litter in Burnham Beeches Penny was surprised to spot a couple of tiny mushrooms. Further investigation revealed they were growing on a mossy Pine cone and even further investigation revealed the unmistakeable spines underneath in place of gills or pores. This species is described as occurring in summer or autumn and certainly today's specimens were not fresh so presumably they'd dried in situ and had managed to survive.
Oct 30, 2020. Margaret Bolton found this exquisite little species growing in rotting pinecones in her garden in Lane End. It's one Penny C. had been on the look out for when under Pine because it only grows on old pinecones though is by no means the only small mushroom to do so. Caps are only about 1 cm across and from above it looks like yet another LBJ, but examining the underside one is left in no doubt what it might be because of its sharp little spines / teeth in place of gills. By far the smallest toothed fungus, it is always a delight to find.
. Commonly found growing on submerged roots at pathsides, this species is much less often found on logs (as here) when it appears somewhat atypical. Note the labyrinthine (maze-like) pore formation and pinkish tones which are key features.
