Although the DBO recording area does not hold any Red Data
Book species it does have an interesting variety of fungi linked to the
different habitats on
the shingle.
Very little grows on the open shingle itself but where there
is a covering of humus you may find various Mycena growing among the grass and
mosses. The grassy covered mounds can have parrot caps Hygrocybe sp. and Orange
Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia as well as Fairy Ring Champignon Marasmius oreades
and False Chanterelle Hygrophorosis aurantiaca. Near the Silver Birches Fly
Agaric Amanita muscaria and Amanita rubescens can occur in some years.


Hygrocybe
nigrescens and Hygrocybe virginea


Amanita muscaria and Amanita rubescens
The richest areas for fungi are under the trees with greater
humus and moister conditions. The recent winter flooding of the Trapping Area
did not seem to adversely affect these plants. Here can be found such varieties
as Brown Roll Rim Paxillus involutus, Lactarius controversus, Leucopaxillus
gigantea, Yellow-cracked Boletus Xerocomus subtomentosus and Red-cracked
Boletus X. chrysenteron, various Russula species including R.nitida and R.xerampelina, Clouded
Agaric Clitocybe nebularis and Soap-scented Tricholoma Tricholoma saponaceum.


Xerocomus
chrysenteron
Russula
nitida
The trunks of the willow bushes are host to bracket fungi
with Daedaleopsis confragosa, Pseudotrametes gibbosa and Merulius tremellosus
having been recorded.


Daedaleopsis
confragosa and Calvatia utriformis
A variety of puffballs are also found including Pestle
Puffball Calvatia excipuliformis,
Mosaic Puffball C.utriformis and Common
Earthball Scleroderma citrinum.
A selection of typical mushrooms including St.George's
Mushroom Calocybe gambosa in the spring and Horse Mushroom Agaricus arvensis,
A.campestris and A.sylvaticus and Wood Blewit Lepista nuda later in the year
can be found.
A downloadable list of all recorded fungi is available here or please contact the Warden. We would be grateful for any records you may have for fungi from within the
observatory recording area as we hope to develop and add to this list.
References.
Garnweidner. 1994.
Mushrooms and
Toadstools of Britain and Europe. Collins.
Sterry. 1991.
Country Guides:
Fungi. Chancellor Press.
Boertmann. 1996.
The Genus
Hygrocybe. Danish Mycological Society.
Pegler. 1990.
Field Guide to the
Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe. Kingfisher.
Phillips.
1983. Mushrooms and
other fungi of Great Britain and Europe. London.
Jordan. 1995.
The Encyclopedia of
Fungi of Britain and Europe. David & Charles.