Fungi Foray

BULGARIACEAE

Black Bulgar

Bulgaria inquinans

Associated with Oak Quercus and Hornbeam Carpinus. Very common after1987 gales.

HELOTIACEAE 

Lemon Disco

Bisporella citrina

Found on deadwood of broadleaf trees.

HELOTIACEAE 

Green Elfin Cup

Chlorociboria aeruginascens

Found on rotting wood of broadleaf trees.

HELOTIACEAE 

Oak Pin

Cudoniella acicularis

Found on oak branches.

HELOTIACEAE 

Nut Disco

Hymenoscyphus fructigenus

Found on oak branches.

HELOTIACEAE 

Beech Jelly Disc

Neobulgaria pura

Found on fallen trunks and branches of European Beech Fagus sylvatica.

HEVELLACEAE 

White Saddle

Helvella crispa

Creamy-white fungus often found growing near the woodland paths in leaf litter during autumn. It has a wax-like texture and usually appears with a very distorted cap. Associated with hornbeam and holly.

HEVELLACEAE

Elfin Saddle

Helvella lacunosa

Found in leaf litter of broadleaf trees.

HYPOCREACEAE

Coral Spot

Nectria cinnabarina

Coral-coloured blobs grow in clusters on decaying deciduous wood. The individual blobs are 1-4mm across and very hard. Associated with beech woodland.

LACHNACEAE

No Common Name

Lachnum brevipilosum

Saprobic fungus with very tiny fruiting bodies that grow in large groups on rotten wood.

LEOTIACEAE

Purple Jellydisc

Ascocoryne sarcoides

Found on dead beech wood during autumn. The fruiting bodies normally appear in patches. They are often shaped irregularly and not disc-like at all. With maturity the disc shapes can become more obvious.

MORCHELLACEAE

Semi-free Morel

Morchella semilibera

Found in leaf litter along path edges.

PEZIZACEAE

Orange Peel Fungus

Aleuria aurantia

This cup fungus is often found on disturbed soil near woodland paths with a preference for exposed locations. As well as Hainault Forest, this species has also be seen in All Saints Graveyard at Chigwell Row.

PEZIZACEAE

Charcoal Cup

Peziza echinospora

Associated with sites where bonfires have taken place and is often found on burnt wood chips.

PEZIZACEAE

Pedicel Cup

Peziza micropus

Grows on very rotten dead hardwood, especially beech, often inside hollow stumps.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Glazed Cup

Humaria hemisphaerica

Tiny cup fungus (20-30mm across) that has a preference for soil and rotten hardwood. The brown outer surface is covered entirely in stiff, brown hairs.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Tan Ear

Otidea alutacea

Buff-coloured fungus, also known as Brown Clustered Ear Cup.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Toad's Ear

Otidea bufonia

Saprobic cup fungus sometimes found near woodland paths.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Hare's Ear

Otidea bufonia

Found in broad-leaved woodland soil often fruiting in small clustered groups.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Common Eyelash

Scutellinia scutellata

Tiny saprophytic fungus (<=4mm across) with a preference for well-rotted wood in damp habitats. There are eyelashes around the edge of the cups.

PYROMEMATACEAE

Greater Toothed Cup

   Tazzeta catinus

Found on soil and in woods containing Hornbeam Carpinus betulus.

RUTSTROEMIACEAE

Brown Cup

   Rutstroemia firma

Found on Oak Quercus twigs.

SCLEROTINIACEAE

Acorn Rot

Ciboria batschiana

Causes black rot on old acorns usually in wet and cold weather.

SARCOSCYPHACEAE

Scarlet Elfcup

Sarcoscypha austriaca

Usually appears during winter months on dead twigs. Has a preference for damp shaded locations where it is usually found partially buried in moss.

XYLARIACEAE

King Alfred's Cakes

Daldinia concentrica

Pinkish-brown fungus that blackens with age. Concentric growth rings are revealed when cut in half, hence 'concentrica' in the Latin name. Usually on dead or dying ash tree wood.  Also known as 'Crampball fungus'.

XYLARIACEAE

Beech Woodwart

Hypoxylon fragiforme

Appears as small warty growths on beech wood. The brick-red rounded fruiting bodies are up to a centimetre across. With age the warts blacken and harden.

XYLARIACEAE

Birch Woodwart

Hypoxylon multiforme

Found on dead Birch Betula wood on the ground. 

XYLARIACEAE

Candlesnuff

Xylaria hypoxylon

Common wood-rotting fungus seen throughout the year. It has stick-like or forked fruiting bodies with black bases and white powdery tips. Height 10-60mm.

XYLARIACEAE

Dead Moll's Fingers

Xylaria longipes

Found in damp habitats feeding on dead or dying wood, usually beech or sycamore. Its club-shaped fruiting bodies are 2-8 cm in height, and up to 2 cm thick. The fingers often appear in tufts similar to fingers of a dead hand.