Leaf Spot on Oak. The spread of the fungus is limited by the tree’s defences, resulting in circular patches of damaged tissue.Margaret and Netty trying to get a Garden Spider to sit still for its photographGarden Spider on leafRed (and Grey) FoxSouthern Hawker dragonfly in Gunnersbury Triangle, 4 October 2017Tricholoma knight fungi
We also saw Fly Agaric, Trooping Funnel, Collared Earthstar, and Deceiver.
Armillaria mellea Honey Fungus by rotting Birch logs. The fungus is both parasitic (killing trees) and saprophytic (rotting their wood afterwards).
Fungus Foray in Gunnersbury TriangleBrittlestems, Psathyrella, cousins of the Inkcaps Mycology from the Master: Alick Henrici with a keen pupilA rare Rhodocybe gemina, the first record for Gunnersbury TrianglePurple Swamp Brittlegill, Russula nitidaMild Milkcap, Lactarius subdulcis. When scratched, Milkcaps exude a milky liquid (note the drops), with a taste that helps in diagnosis. This one is not peppery! Earthball, Scleroderma – sometimes used to dilute costly Truffles, but toxicTurkeytail Bracket, Trametes versicolorCommon Cavalier, Melanoleuca polioleucaThe Blusher, Amanita rubescens – an edible member of a dangerous genus. Its pink ‘blush’ when damaged can be seen in small patches of the cap and on the broken stalk.
Apart from the fungi named in the image captions, we also saw plenty of the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata); Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina); assorted species of Fairy Bonnets (Mycena spp.); the Brown Rollrim (Paxillus involutus); Puffballs (Lycoperdon perlatum); and more. There was hardly any Birch Polypore – we often have fine big white brackets of them: just one small nodule, Piptoporus betulinus.
Alick Henrici on Fungus Foray
Dreaded by gardeners – Honey Fungus, Armillaria melleaLilac Fibrecap, Inocybe geophylla var. lilacinaWebcaps, CortinariusAn extremely tough bracket fungus
The English seem unemotional … except for their passion for nature
