FUNGI
TRUE MUSHROOMS
Field Mushroom is a saphrobic grassland species found during summer and autumn. The cap, 30-100mm across, is thick and fleshy, creamy white and may develop small scales with maturity. It doesn't stain yellow when rubbed or damaged. The edge is normally down-turned or slightly in-rolled. The white stipe, 30-100mm tall, is smooth above the ring, scaly below and fairly parallel along the length. The ring normally vanishes before the fruitbody is fully formed. Gills are free and crowded, deep pink, turning dark brown, then blackish. Its spores are chocolate brown.
Yellow Stainer is a saprobic mushroom found in disturbed grassland during summer and autumn. The cap, 50-150mm across, is globose, often with flattened top, becoming broadly convex. The cap is matt white before greying, it stains yellow when cut or damaged. The smooth and silky stipe, 150mm long, has a bulbous base. There is a large, white, ring that persists with age. Gills are free and off-white, then pink and grey-brown. Dark brown spores.
Blue Roundhead is a saprobic fungus, normally seen in small groups in grass or leaf litter in woodland. It is sometimes mistaken for the Aniseed Funnel, however there are differences. It does not smell of aniseed; the caps are viscid, often more greenish than blue; and there are white scales near the cap rim. The caps begin bell-shaped, then flatten and turn paler from the centre. When mature the cap diameter is typically 3-8cm. Gills are light grey becoming purple-brown as spores develop. The gills are notched near the stem.
The Deceiver comes in a variety of colour shades and sizes. This is a very common mushroom in woodland and grassland during autumn and early-winter.
Amethyst Deceiver appears in mixed woodland during late and early winter, especially near beech. Whether the mushrooms are dark or pale depends on the weather and age. Deep purple indicates there has been a spell of damp weather. They tend to be paler in dry conditions.
Fly Agaric is associated with silver birch roots which radiate from the tree. There is a beneficial relationship between the fungal threads (mycorrhiza) and tree roots called symbiosis. The fungi provide the tree roots with water, essential nutrients and chemicals. The tree supplies carbohydrates to the fungi, which, lacking chlorophyll cannot make their own sugar.
Porcelain Fungus has a delicate translucent appearance. It is normally found on fallen beech trees and branches and is also known as 'Slimy Beech Tuft'. In folklore elves and fairies are often associated with living under toadstools. However, you will never find one residing beneath this species because dripping slime from the cap drives them away to drier habitats. It is also said that other fungi won't live under it and there may be some truth to this... the slime is said to contain a fungicide that kills them off.
Field Blewit is a grassland species that has a very smooth greyish-brown/beige cap. The cap starts convex and then flattens. The chunky, short stem has a bluish-lilac tinge and a vertically fiborous coating. This species sometimes forms fairy rings.
Yellow Shield is a saprobic mushroom that grows on dead beech hardwood. It is usually found solitary or in small groups during late summer and autumn. When the caps flatten they measure 20-40mm across.
Deer Shield is a wood-rotting fungus that occurs mainly on hardwood stumps either solitary or in small groups.
Snowy Inkcap is mostly found on old horse manure or cowpats, especially where dung and straw has been heaped and left to rot. The caps (2-5cm across) and stem (6-9cm tall) are covered in veil remnants on young specimens. Initially white, these mushrooms turn black when they deliquesce.
© hainaultforest.net. All rights reserved.