Millyford & Holm Hill
Sat 6 Nov 2021
Arcyria denudata
Photo © Dave Shute
Field event ID HF2127
OS Grid areas: SU2607 SU2608
Report: There was a high turnout of members on a mild, dry, but largely overcast day. Close to the car park, in a hollowed beech stump, we admired Ossicaulis lignatilis (Mealy Oyster). It has appeared here regularly in the last few years. Nearby we recorded the diminutive leaden-coloured Mycena pseudocorticola on a moss-covered log. With so many pairs of eyes searching there were soon plenty of further discoveries. Close to the main path there was a patch of Otidea onotica (Hare’s Ear) and amongst the leaf litter a good variety of bonnets (Mycena) and parachutes (Marasmius) some of which were identifiable in the field whilst others were taken away for analysis. Perhaps the most interesting proved to be the tiny Marasmius epiphylloides (Ivy Parachute) on an ivy leaf.
Some discussion over a bracket-like fungus on beech was subsequently determined as Inonotus nodulosus. We then discovered Ampulloclitocybe clavipes (Club Foot), Megacollybia platyphylla (Whitelaced Shank) and some impressive specimens of Ganoderma pfeifferi (Beeswax Bracket).
A pink slime-mold, Arcyria denudata (Carnival Candy) was a nice distraction, before a fine specimen of Helvella lacunana (Elfin Saddle) was found. The fallen beech above this harboured the minute, bright red, spherical clusters of the Ascomycete, Neonectria coccinea.
A group of small mottlegill mushrooms on horse dung could not be identified on the day but were subsequently confirmed as the rarely recorded, Psilocybe liniformans.
The numerous species in the genus Cortinarius are usually beyond the realm of field identification but there are a few distinctive species. So, when a wine-red species was found under beech we knew we had a Blood Red Webcap, but it transpires that this has now been split into two species. Our specimen, being in broadleaf woodland, was Cortinarius puniceus as opposed to its conifer counterpart, C. sanguineus.
The attractive resupinate fungus, Aleurodiscus wakefieldiae (Pink Disco) was next up. Once described as rare, it is now being found with relative frequency in the New Forest, but it is always nice to come across.
Another good find was the uncommon Pluteus umbrosus (Velvet Shield). As the name suggests it has a soft texture to the cap surface and distinctive dark brown gill edges.
To close, there was a fine group of Pholiota squarrosa (Shaggy Scalycap).
Species recorded: Aleurodiscus wakefieldiae, Amanita citrina var. citrina, Amanita excelsa var. spissa, Amanita muscaria var. muscaria, Amanita rubescens var. rubescens, Ampulloclitocybe clavipes, Armillaria gallica, Armillaria ostoyae, Bjerkandera adusta, Bulgaria inquinans, Calocera cornea, Chlorociboria aeruginascens, Chondrostereum purpureum, Clavaria acuta, Clitocybe gibba, Clitocybe nebularis, Coprinellus micaceus, Cortinarius azureovelatus, Cortinarius largus, Cortinarius parvannulatus, Cortinarius puniceus, Cortinarius valgus, Cystoderma amianthinum, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Galerina marginata, Ganoderma australe, Ganoderma pfeifferi, Helvella lacunosa, Hemimycena tortuosa, Hydnum repandum, Hydnum rufescens, Hygrophorus unicolor, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Hypholoma elongatum, Inocybe petiginosa, Laccaria amethystina, Laccaria laccata, Laccaria proxima, Lactarius blennius, Lactarius quietus, Lactarius tabidus, Leotia lubrica, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, Macrolepiota mastoidea, Macrolepiota procera var. procera, Marasmius epiphylloides, Megacollybia platyphylla, Mensularia nodulosa, Mycena arcangeliana, Mycena capillaris, Mycena epipterygia, Mycena galericulata, Mycena galopus var. nigra, Mycena haematopus, Mycena inclinata, Mycena meliigena, Mycena olida, Mycena pelianthina, Mycena pseudocorticola, Mycena rosea, Mycena speirea, Mycena tenerrima, Mycena vitilis, Neobulgaria pura var. pura, Neonectria coccinea, Ossicaulis lignatilis, Otidea onotica, Oudemansiella mucida, Paxillus involutus, Phlebia tremellosa, Pholiota aurivella, Pholiota squarrosa, Piptoporus betulinus, Pluteus cervinus, Pluteus phlebophorus, Pluteus umbrosus, Postia subcaesia, Psathyrella piluliformis, Psilocybe liniformans, Ramaria stricta, Rhodocollybia butyracea, Russula atropurpurea, Russula fragilis var. fragilis, Russula nigricans, Russula nobilis, Russula ochroleuca, Scleroderma citrinum, Stereum gausapatum, Stereum hirsutum, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes ochracea, Trametes versicolor, Tricholoma fulvum, Tricholoma sulphureum var. sulphureum, Tricholoma ustale, Trochila ilicina, Tubaria conspersa, Tubaria furfuracea, Xylaria hypoxylon, Xylaria polymorpha
A full species list with further details can be seen at the Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland (FRDBI). Please contact us if you need a user ID.