Gateshead Birders
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Gateshead Birders |
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Dog Stinkhorn [Mutinus caninus]
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Clara Vale 31st July 2004. This species is quite rare in County Durham, (12 records) and described as occasional nationally. Stinkhorns have slender stipes (stalks) with heads that are covered with smelly gleba (spore mass).
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White Spindles Fungi [Clavaria fragilis]
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Found 5th June 2004 Located in the same field as the Adderstongue. Its a nationally uncommon fungus, rare in Gateshead and the north east generally. Clavaria fragilis [Clavaria vermicularis], a member of the Fairy clubs family. Only one other record for Gateshead in 1985. 3 records for Durham. Indicator species for unimproved grassland.
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Earth Star (Geastrum pectinatum)
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September 2003 Earth Star (Geastrum pectinatum) noted. Quite scarce nationally and rare in this region. The colony is getting smaller. [Photo: Gordon Pollinger] |
Dancing Mushroom (Grifola frondosa)
Closeup
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Blaydon November 2004 Also know as Hen-of-the -woods or Maitake. This species usually grows at the base of a trunk of mainly Oak and other deciduous trees. Has been seen growing on tree stumps. It can grow to exremely large clumps, a large specimen can provide a feast as it is a ghood edible species. [Photo: Gordon Pollinger]
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Pink Waxcap (Hygrocybe calyptriformis)
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Blaydon November 2004 This is now a rare species in Britain. Its main habitats include lawns, grassy meadows, pastures and woodland margins. It has been recorded from both limestone grassland and acidic grassland. Fruiting bodies, which are seldom abundant, generally appear between August and October. They have attractive pointed caps 5-7 cm tall and a white or pinkish stem up to 10 cm tall. Being a conspicuous species, it is thought that it may be better recorded than other waxcap fungi. [Photo: Jim Kennedy]
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Crimson Waxcap (Hygrocybe punicea)
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Shibdon October 2005 This colourful waxcap is a large and handsome but declining species indicative of old unfertilised pastures grassland and acidic grassland. Fruitaing in September and October, but can be well into the winte rif it is mild.
[Photo: Paul Davidson] |
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)
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Far Pasture October 2005 Height up to 8cm A very variable fungus looking quite different when wet compared to when it was dry. Found among leaf litter in deciduous and coniferous woodlands, JulyOctober. Widespread and common. Cap usually orange-brown and irregularly rounded. Gills pinkish buff and stem twisted, fibrous and concolorous with cap.
[Photo: Stephen Wales ] |
Fly-Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
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Derwent Walk October 2005 It is a very common mushroom in conifer areas all throughout the northern hemisphere. The colour is highly variable, from bright red (A. muscaria var. muscaria), to orange to yellow (A. muscaria var. formosa) to white (A. muscaria var. alba), but there are always white patches on the cap. They can grow to be quite large, up to a foot high with caps as big as diner plates. It's called the fly agaric because in some regions little pieces of the mushroom are placed in milk to attract flies. The flies become inebriated and crash into walls and die. Besides the brightly coloured and large fruiting bodies, there is substantial interest in this mushroom because it is poisonous and hallucinogenic. Most fruiting bodies contain two toxins, ibotenic acid and muscimol. Ingestion of these toxins results in "expanded perception," talking to God, macropsia (perceiving objects as enlarged), rapid heartbeat, dry mouth. They are hallucinogenic and psychoactive, acting on the nervous system - you've been warned. This was part of a group of ten on the bank-side of the Derwent Walk. [Photo: Alan Mould ] |
Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana)
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Blaydon November 2004 A Small delicate species found in grassland and often occuring in large numbers. All parts are a waxy golden-orange, it occurs September to December and is edible. The cap is usually wet and sticky. [Photo: Gordon Pollinger]
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| ©2002 Wigeonsoft
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