A Red Data List Fungus in Calderdale

Violet Coral Clavaria zollingeri

We need to pinpoint where this appears by satellite navigation. Michael Sykes, our Fungus Recorder, found it a few years back. The only other person who saw it was the late Colin Duke, our other Fungus Recorder.

If Michael feels up to it, and dependant on weather, I propose to go looking on December 15th, instead of the Stoodley Glen foray. We've been up there once already this autumn. The more pairs of eyes the better.

We will be meeting at the same place, on the main Hebden Bridge - Todmorden Road, at Eastwood Cricket ground, 10.30 for 10.45. We will drive along a short way and walk from another parking spot.

The rare Clavaria grows near Blackshaw Head. Mike took the above photo on 30th October 2006, but there is a chance, if it came up this year, that it might be still visible.

Fascinating Earth-tongue Fungi

Cordyceps militaris or Scarlet Caterpillarclub id by MWS.

It grows an the body of a dead butterfly or moth larva or pupa, its mycelium replacing the 

insides of the dead insect.

These come in a wide range of colours. Sometimes intermingled as if the mycelia are associated in some way.

 An altenative name for the group is the Fairy Clubs.

And a little mushroom. All these were in the same lawn - a nice, unfertilised, closely-shorn lawn with plenty of moss!  It's at Saville Park, Halifax.

Hardcastle Crags. 10th November 2012.

The highlight of the walk through the Crags for my son Oliver, was when he found a Jelly Ear, Auricularia auricularia - judae. It felt so amazing, he even took a piece to bed with him!

FROM STEVE: that's a lovely story about Oliver. He's definitely a budding mycologist :-)

Auricularia auricularia-judae - Jelly Ear

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

This was growing out of a hollow at the bottom of a tree. Tongue shaped caps and it had a very tough stem. Maybe Hen of the Woods.

One of the smaller Inkcap Coprinus species.

                  Flammulina velutipes, Velvet Shank

 A Scleroderma - Earthball

Thanks for your posting, Alison. Sorry, haven't done them all - have to get my tea now.

(I've solved the problem of invisible text on my screen - downloaded Google Chrome, so you can just send it at the normal size.)

Mycena capilaris

Found by Michael this morning in Crimsworth Dean, who photographed and identified it.
He says it's not uncommon on fallen Fagus (Beech) but it's so very tiny, it's not often noted.

Mycena are a  numerous group. Bonnets is the common name. Named after an ancient tribe - the Mycenae - who wore a distinctive bonnet.

A little mushroom on the HSS walk on Sat.17th Nov

It was also seen on the October walk, the foray to Stoodley Glen, but not identified then.
I think it's Hare's Foot Inkcap Coprinus lagopus. (Hares and rabbits are Lagomorphs.)

Both specimens were on high, open pasture, recently grazed.

It's said to be edible but not worthwhile. The cap's only up to about 4cm high (1.5 inches).

P.s. HSS stands for Halifax Scientific Society.

Blewit in the Ryburn Valley

 

Found recently, identified and photographed by Michael.

There are two common species, this one, Wood Blewit Lepista nuda, and Field Blewit Lepista saeva.

They continue the gastronomic fungus collector's  season into early winter, and are good to eat. I often see this one coming up on heaps of lawn mowings and from there I wouldn't eat them, in case they've absorbed any of those chemicals that lawn-fussy people spray all over.

Hardcastle Crags 29th September 2012

We found quite a lot of fungi, on our trip to Hardcastle Crags that day. Please could you identify them, Steve. Thanks.

Fistulina hepatica - Beefsteak Fungus

STEVE:I think this one below is the early stage of a clump of Sulphur Tuft, Hypholoma fasciculare.

 Turkey Tails ( Trametes versicolor)

Above and below Artists Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum)

STEVE: So many different species, even different families are very similar to these little white ones below, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess.

STEVE: Think it's Bitter Bracket, Postia stiptica. Did it taste bitter and stinging? (Yum !)

STEVE: Some more of the above ?

Laccaria amethystina, Amethyst Deceiver. 

                                                        

Thanks for posting your pictures, Alison.

Hardcastle Crags 6th October 2012

Hoof Fungus (Formes fomentarius)

Washed-out Fly Agarics

 

Illustrating how rain washes off the loosely-attached white spots.

These Fly Agarics Amanita muscaria, were very small ones, slightly less than tennis ball size, in St John's Churchyard, Godley Lane, Rishworth.

Does anyone know of a good show of them anywhere?

They are invariably near birch trees, with which they have a mycorrhizal association.

Less disappointing was a small flowering patch of Autumn Crocus Crocus nudiflorus, not known from the records. (See calderdale-wildlife.blogspot)