Love of Nature, Natural History, Nature Reserves Fabulous Fungi in Gunnersbury Triangle! 8 November 2022 Ian Alexander Humaria hemisphaerica – glazed cup fungus Geastrum striatum – streaked earthstar (the smaller cousin of the collared earthstar, also found in the Triangle) Stereum hirsutum – orange curtain crust Daedaleopsis confragosa – Blushing Bracket – discolours reddish when scratched, as you can see Netty, now with the RSPB, and volunteer Olwyn by the pond during the fungus foray Fungus expert Alick Henrici collecting some interesting-looking ear fungi The Candlesnuff fungus, Xylaria hypoxylon, has now grown into some glorious Stagshorn shapes, all around the reserve Tremella cf. foliacea, the yellow brain fungus Xerocomellus (formerly Xerocomus), a Bolete mushroom (in the Cep family) with little tubes ending in pores on the underside of the cap, not gills Hyphodontia sambuci – elder whitewash (as here, not always on Elder). Lovers of Italy will know Sambuca as an elderberry and anise liqueur! Tricholoma cf. album, the white knight, in the anthill meadow Agaricus sp., an edible mushroom in the same genus as the commercial champignon de Paris and the field mushroom Lepista inversa, the tawny funnel, a mushroom in the same genus as the delicious wood blewits
Natural History GT Fungi 13 October 2019 Ian Alexander Mottled Birch Bolete, Leccinum variicolor, in Gunnersbury Triangle. The species is edible (if found in quantity!) but not nearly as good as the Orange Birch Bolete. Psathyrella, a smallish toadstool with a fragile stem, a cousin of the Inkcaps (Coprinus) Yes you spotted it, not a fungus. A Smooth Newt under a nearby refugium. These seem to be young Agaricus, probably Wood Mushrooms, in the ivy and leaf-litter. Well, EVERYBODY noticed this mushroom! Giant Funnel, Leucopaxillus giganteus Amethyst Deceiver, Laccaria amethystina, very different (alas!) from the delicious Wood Blewit which also has “blue legs”.