Fungi, fungi, and more fungi in the park

From the Google cache.

Fungi, fungi, and more fungi

Date: 10/9/05 at 5:40PM

Today, we went looking for fungi in the park at the south east city edge.

Near the farm, now the park’s visitors’ centre, a nest, intended for white storks.

However, they have not used it yet; though the species nests not far away.

Grey herons do nest not far from the farm.

There also walked chickens, guineafowl, and a turkey.

Not as many as there used to be, as occasionally foxes come here.

The first mushroom we saw was a Pholiota.

On a wooden work of art near the farm, several fungi species grew.

They were saprophytic species, living off dead wood.

Including Psathyrella conopilus, with dark heads if it is wet; lighter brown if it is dry.

Other “art loving” species there: a Galerina; and a Crucibulum.

A bit further, near an oak tree, several other mushrooms.

Not saprophytic species, but symbiotic or mycorrhizal fungi, helping trees grow.

Including Inocybe geophylla, its relative Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina; and a Hebeloma.

90% of all trees have mycorrhizal fungi with them.

Often a bit different fungi species when trees are still young; replaced by other fungi species as trees grow older.

A well known mycorrhizal fungus is Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric.

However, the fly agaric is very rare in this local authority; as most of it, including this park, is peaty soil. While the fly agaric needs sandy soil.

On another tree, a saprophytic species again: Coprinus disseminatus.

A bit further: deer mushroom.

And the little red points on trees’ branches of Nectria cinnabarina, coral spot fungus.

On another branch Auricularia auricula-judae, wood ear fungus. One of not many fungi which can survive frost.

A related species is used in Japanese meals.

Smaller, on another twig: Xylaria hypoxylon, candlesnuff fungus.

And Exidia thuretiana, white brain.

A bit further: Coprinus comatus, shaggy mane.

And the beautiful Geastrum triplex, collared earthstar.

A bit further a group of big Lepiota rhacodes, shaggy parasol.

And Stereum rugosum, bleeding broadleaf crust.

On the not so sunny parts of a bridge’s railings: lichen; a symbiosis of fungi and algae.

Near the bridge, Agaricus xanthoderma, yellow-staining mushroom. Poisonous, contrary to its edible relatives.

And another Coprinus.

Near alder trees, in symbiosis with them: Alnicola escharoides.

On the alder: Taphrina alni. A parasite, not a symbiont, this fungus.

Another beautiful earthstar: Geastrum fimbriatum, fringed earthstar.

A bit further: Paxillus involutus.

On a tree, a big Polyporus squamosus, dryad’s saddle.

Further, a circle of Collybia conferendum.

And Scleroderma citrina, False puffball.

Further: Peniophora rufomarginata, linked to lime-trees.

And small Clavaria on the ground.

Clavulina cinerea and its relative Clavulina coralloides are two species looking somewhat like coral in the sea.

We saw only these two species, but there are four of those species in this park.

Our last two species for today: the black Xylaria longipes, dead Moll’s fingers; and the small Lepiota pseudoasperula.

Mushroom circles: here.