Mike Waterman led a fungus identification walk at Great Wood, Farley Hill on Saturday 21 October. It was an afternoon of gale force winds, but within the woods conditions were fairly sheltered. While the group gathered at the start of the walk, they were able to admire a collection of about 10 Collared Earthstars Geastrum triplex on the bank at the side of the road. Hand lenses were used to look closely at 2 different Bonnet species. The stems of the Snapping Bonnet Mycena vitilis are brittle and made an audible snapping noise when broken. Mike pointed out the tiny cross-veins between the gills on the Common Bonnet M. galericulata. Jelly Rot Phlebia tremellosa was noted on a fallen trunk. Both Common Earthball Scleroderma citrinum and Scaly Earthball S. verrucosum were found. The latter species had a stem-like structure at its base. Mike explained the difference between Puffballs, which have neat holes for releasing their spores and Earthballs, which split open. Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystina was found growing in the leaf litter. Its colour changes from a deep purple when wet to a much paler tone when dry. The underside of a Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa was rubbed to demonstrate that it flushes pink when bruised. A stick had small creamy-white fan-like specimens of a Crepidotus species, which subsequent microscopic examination revealed to be C. cesatii. A number of Brittlegill species were seen, including the Charcoal Burner Russula cyanoxantha, the Ochre Brittlegill R. ochroleuca, the pale pink Birch Brittlegill R. betularum and the Fragile Brittlegill, R. fragilis. A striking glossy bracket on Birch was identified later as the uncommon Ganoderma resinaceum. A worn Stinkhorn Phallus impudicus was found, with its cap worn away to a white honeycomb-like surface. The False Deathcap Amanita citrina was pale yellow, with traces of veil on the cap and a ring on the stem. A drop of latex from the Birch Milkcap Lactarius tabidus was put on white paper, where it slowly turned from white to yellow. Later, a specimen of the Grey Milkcap Lactarius vietus was found, whose milk dries dark on the gills. A specimen of the Lurid Bolete Boletus luridus was cut in half and it quickly turned a greenish blue. Later in the walk, a Brown Birch Bolete Leccinum scabrum was cut in half, and this time the pores remained a creamy white. The Grooved Bonnet Mycena polygramma had a relatively long fluted stem. A series of short irregular black lines on a Bracken stem were the Bracken Map Rhopographus filicinus. Pale Oyster Mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus were growing out of a fallen tree trunk. On the way back to the cars, Mike pointed out the gas tar smell of the Sulphur Knight Tricholoma sulphureum.
Pictures by Rob Stallard and Laurie Haseler
| Species | English name |
| Amanita citrina var. citrina | False Deathcap |
| Boletus luridus | Lurid Bolete |
| Clitocybe nebularis | Clouded Funnel |
| Crepidotus cesatii | |
| Daedaleopsis confragosa | Blushing Bracket |
| Ganoderma resinaceum | |
| Geastrum triplex | Collared Earthstar |
| Gymnopilus penetrans | Common Rustgill |
| Gymnopus dryophilus | Russet Toughshank |
| Gymnopus peronatus | Wood Woollyfoot |
| Heterobasidion annosum | Root Rot |
| Hypholoma fasciculare var. fasciculare | Sulphur Tuft |
| Laccaria amethystina | Amethyst Deceiver |
| Laccaria laccata | Deceiver |
| Laccaria proxima | Scurfy Deceiver |
| Lactarius camphoratus | Curry Milkcap |
| Lactarius tabidus | Birch Milkcap |
| Lactarius vietus | Grey Milkcap |
| Leccinum scabrum | Brown Birch Bolete |
| Mycena galericulata | Common Bonnet |
| Mycena polygramma | Grooved Bonnet |
| Mycena vitilis | Snapping Bonnet |
| Phallus impudicus var. impudicus | Stinkhorn |
| Phlebia tremellosa | Jelly Rot |
| Piptoporus betulinus | Birch Polypore / Razorstrop Fungus |
| Pleurotus ostreatus | Oyster Mushroom |
| Rhopographus filicinus | Bracken Map |
| Russula betularum | Birch Brittlegill |
| Russula cyanoxantha | Charcoal Burner |
| Russula fragilis var. fragilis | Fragile Brittlegill |
| Russula ochroleuca | Ochre Brittlegill |
| Scleroderma citrinum | Common Earthball |
| Scleroderma verrucosum | Scaly Earthball |
| Stereum hirsutum | Hairy Curtain Crust |
| Tricholoma sulphureum var. sulphureum | Sulphur Knight |
| Xylaria hypoxylon | Candlesnuff Fungus |
List by Mike Waterman