Extremely wet weather and frosty mornings prevented me from doing much foraying since Christmas. I have managed to get out for a bit of exercise round local parks in south Liverpool but even that was difficult as everywhere is so wet and muddy. All the expected species were present such as Flammulina velutipes (Velvet Shank), and Clitocybe nebularis (Clouded Agaric) which I described for you to look out for in last month’s article. Species of more interest were mostly tiny, hidden on small twigs and under leaves in sheltered spots.
Here are several different fungi i spotted;
So called because when fresh the stem looks as if it is dripping with liquid
Grows in large groups on dead Oak.
This species has a liking for dead Bramble stems.
Found on fallen wood.
Seen on litter from Cedar.
Can grow in large numbers on the moss round the base and up the trunk in the shelter of large trees.
Grows from the leaf petioles of dead leaves. This and similar species are host specific.
Found growing from dead leaves has very unique spiky cap and is hard to find due to its size. My photo was taken under a microscope at x40.
There are still fungi about but they take a bit of finding. If the weather does not freeze, early spring species may start to appear. We shall see...
