Shepherds Gutter
Sun 9 Sep 2012
Laetiporus sulphureus
Photo © Paul Hugill
Field event ID HF1215
OS Grid areas: SU2615
New Records:
New to HFRG: Asterostroma cervicolor
Report: (Paul Hugill) The almost complete absence of summer fungal varieties, presumably due to the unusual climatic conditions this year of drought followed by excessive rainfall over many weeks, continued to be the case for this foray, despite the existence of large areas of damp and shady conditions especially near the “gutter”. Agaric finds were limited to only four Russulas in poor condition, some Hydnum repandum (Wood Hedgehog), two other small species to be determined and no Boletes at all. So the question is, will this trend continue into autumn, or will the autumnal species burst forth soon and produce a good show?
The intrepid hardcore of HFRG members were joined by two arboriculturalists (people who talk to trees), Colin Macintire and Bill Kowalczyk, so foray conversations centred on tree- fungi relationships in the absence of the more usual identification debates.
Notable finds included a fine display of Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken of the Woods), and a large number of Crepidotus mollis (Peeling Oysterling) along the length of a single fallen beech log. For those with a leaning towards resupinates, the more uncommon Subulicystidium longisporum, Byssocorticium pulchrum finds helped to extend the meagre list.
Species list: Amanita rubescens var. rubescens, Annulohypoxylon multiforme, Asterostroma cervicolor, Botryobasidium aureum, Byssocorticium pulchrum, Byssocorticium pulchrum, Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Crepidotus mollis, Daldinia concentrica, Fistulina hepatica, Ganoderma australe, Gymnopus fusipes, Hydnum repandum, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Hymenoscyphus fructigenus, Hypoxylon fragiforme, Lachnum niveum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Nectria punicea var. ilicis, Orbilia auricolor, Phlebiella sulphurea, Pleurotus ostreatus, Radulomyces confluens, Russula graveolens, Russula nobilis, Russula ochroleuca, Russula rosea, Schizopora paradoxa, Scleroderma areolatum, Skeletocutis nivea, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum subtomentosum, Subulicystidium longisporum, Thyronectria aquifolii, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes versicolor