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 Agaricus sylvaticus 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 list of all recorded fungi is available form the Warden and 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. 198. Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe. London.
Jordan. 1995. The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe. David & Charles.