A dry, still, November Saturday morning saw 15 enthusiastic people come together at St Mary’s Old Church. They had come from as far away as Chelmsford to enjoy our now annual guided ‘fungi hunt’ walk. This year they were led by one who set their level of expectations by confirming that as there are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, he had no intention of being dogmatic in any identifications. He was working on the principal that anything found, if eaten, would cause severe illness or even death! (You’re not getting the writer into a Coroner’s Court.)
First Finds
So, on that basis we started in the Church graveyard where we found numerous Waxcaps (probably Golden Waxcaps).
This is not surprising as they prefer land that has not been fertilised, treated with chemicals, ploughed or, for that matter, disturbed by a burial in the last 100 years.
We then made our way along the farm track with the intention of ‘getting our eyes in’ so that we would then notice the presence of fungi despite the covering of fallen leaves. Of course, whilst it was soon effective, it didn’t mean that identification was always easy. (Although there was an abundance of mobile phone apps being wielded from all directions).
Turkey Tails
We soon came across numerous examples of ‘Turkey tail’ (Trametes versicolor). The Latin description refers to the variation in colours that are variable mixes of brown, yellow, grey, purple, green and black, but the outer margin is always pale – either cream or white. But the common name relates to it looking like the upright tail of a wild turkey.
These are small, tough, bracket fungus that grows in tiered layers on dead wood – mainly hardwood. They are examples of ‘saprobic’ fungi – i.e. parasitic. They digest cellulose and lignin, being among the very few organisms capable of doing so. Cellulose and lignin are the principal constituents of wood. Ultimately, they will reduce a dead tree to soil, even if it takes a few decades!
More Bracket Fungi
Another such fungus is the Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina). As its name suggests, you find it in any birch wood growing from both living and dead birch trunks. A thick, solitary bracket with a rounded, bulbous shape. The topside is usually cream or greyish brown with a smooth texture. The underside is pale with very small pores. It grows up to 30cm across.
It is also known as the razorstrop fungus. Barbers used to use dried strips to prepare the blades of their cutthroat razors for close shaves.
One of the best-known examples of this type of fungi is King Alfred’s cakes (Daldinia concentrica). They don’t rot away quickly but can remain on deadwood for years. When young they are pinkish-brown but the older they get, the darker and more ’burnt’ looking they become. We managed to see it at both stages.
Symbiotic Species
We also saw examples of Ground growing fungi that are likely to be ‘mycorrhizal’ – i.e. symbiotic. Fungi are not plants and so cannot photosynthesise. They therefore have no access to sugars and carbon unless they are provided by plants. Plant roots are inefficient harvesters of soil nutrients. There is therefore an opportunity for an exchange of resources – sugars for nutrients, such as phosphorous, sulphur, iron and nitrogen. Certain species of fungi associate themselves with certain species of trees in a relationship that is essential for a tree to be healthy. ‘Clitopilus’ is one such group.
In addition, there are other fungi, such as inkcaps, funnels and puffballs that grow among leaf litter, breaking this down into soil and so do not interact with live trees and plants. We found numerous Tawney Funnels (Paralepista flaccida).
Eyes Well ‘In’
By this time, eyes were truly ‘in’ and the group were discovering new species everywhere. We (possibly) found one of the ‘Pluteaceae’ fungi species, Amethyst Deceiver, Common Puffball and Coral-spot fungus.
So, all in all, it was a (hopefully) enjoyable experience in pleasant surroundings with lovely November weather. Could anyone want anything more?
Andrew Savage
Chair, The Friends of Hillhouse Wood
The event was organised by the Friends of Hillhouse Wood who work with The Woodland Trust to keep this ancient woodland for future generations.