Fungal Foray

It seems to have been a good year for fungi and our local enthusiast, Alistair Hutchison has been digging up some wonders of the fungal world. It's got to the 'you've lost me' stage with the weird and wonderful names he comes up with - but who needs names when you can feast your eyes (but definitely not your taste buds) on this lot?!
Becky

Beinn Bheigier Circumnavigation

Last Monday I did a walk I'd wanted to do for a while - I circumnavigated Islay's highest mountain anticlockwise, starting at Ardtalla and finishing at Claggain Bay. There were glorious views down Gleann Srath nam Bothag on the northern side of the mountain, and Gleann Leòra on the south side, which made up for the dearth of flora and fauna. I did hear the Red Deer rutting, however, and saw these two types of fungi on the same log just before dragging my feet the last few steps back to the car at Ardtalla!
Becky

View of Beinn Bheigier from SE at beginning of walk near Ardtalla

Beinn Bheigier's south-eastern summit

Glas Bheinn and Gleann Srath nam Bothag with Abhainn Phroaig from north flanks of Beinn Bheigier

Beinn Bheigier's north-western summit

Beinn Bheigier and Claggain River from the south

Fungus on log

Another fungus on the same log, possibly Honey Fungus?

Fungi in acidic grassland - Ballinaby

Fairy ring

This was growing in the grass close to the shore near Glenburn today. It is quite small, not much more than a metre across, and made up of small fungi. I'm not sure which species, but probably a Clitocybe. Perhaps Carl can identify it - he borrowed my best fungi book quite a while ago!!
Malcolm

Flora and Fauna at Killinallan, 29th August 2011

Only two people for today's windy ramble. Think we'll need to improve the advertising for next year. It's been interesting going back to Killinallan over the past few months and seeing the annual floral cycle take place. The orchids are now all gone and instead of being awash with pinks and purples, the dunes are a carpet of blues with Harebells and Devil's-bit-Scabious in profusion. Fungi is sprouting up all over the place as well - and so we welcome autumn!

BIRDS
Curlew, Raven, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Eider, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Pied (White) Wagtail

MAMMALS
Grey Seals (singing)

LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina, Anaptychia runsinata, Lecanora Gangloides, Ramalina sp.

FUNGI
Lots of species - to be identified we hope!

INSECTS AND SPIDERS
Dark Green Fritillary, Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee - the 'orange' one), Bombus Lucorum (White-tailed Bumble Bee), Orb-weaver Spider Web

AMPHIBIANS
Baby Common Frog

FLORA
Autumn Gentian, Yellow Flag, Self-heal, Wild Thyme, Yarrow, Harebell, Devil's-bit Scabious, Thrift, Sea Milkwort, Silverweed, Marsh Marigold, Water Mint, Forget-me-not sp., Marram Grass, Yorkshire Fog, Sweet Vernal Grass, Grass of Parnassus, Black Bog Rush, Jointed Rush, Tormentil, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lesser Spearwort, Eyebright, Spear Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Lady's Bedstraw, Red Clover, Bracken, Marsh Pennywort, Marsh Lousewort, Lesser Meadow Rue, Ragged Robin, Meadowsweet, Angelica, Pignut, Hawkweed, Knotted Pearlwort, Marsh Willowherb

A profusion of Devil's-bit Scabious

Fungal Foray

We're breaking the record for the number of posts per day,but I don't want to leave anyone out and it's great having so many folk send in their records. Please keep them coming!

This latest batch is from Alistair Hutchison, a local man, and is more evidence I'm afraid of the onset of autumn - a veritable fungal foray. I'm afraid I don't know what the fungi are, but will seek help from the experts! NOW DONE AND IDENTIFIED. Thanks, Alistair!
Becky

Hygrocybe conica  - Blackening Waxcap

Volvariella gloiocephala

Polyporus squarmosus - Dryads Saddle (sorry-looking specimen)

Hygrocybe conica  - Blackening Waxcap

Fungal Spore Print

Here is the fungal spore print from the fungus I took home yesterday. I looked through the powerful microscope and it is fascinating. The spores themselves actually look dark green. I still don't know what species it is. To do a spore print, carefully remove the cap of a fungus (preferably with disposable gloves). When at home or in the laboratory, place the cap right side up on a piece of glass or small sheet of paper and cover with a drinking glass. Leave overnight. The spore droppers (Basidiomycetes) will make a print below the cap you put out. The spore shooters (Ascomycetes) will make a halo around the cap. Sadly I'd thrown the cap out before I realised about the halo thing. ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING FUNGI AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO EAT. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING FUNGI.
Becky

Camarophyllus niveus - Lorgba, Port Charlotte

I think this is Camarophyllus niveus, a small white agaric found in a group on my lawn.  It is small, is going ivory coloured with age from brilliant white and the cap is slightly striated at the margin.  There is no stem ring.  It is apparently edible.  Smells good - like a mushroom.
Carl

Unidentified Funghi

Growing on a sand dune at Ardnave.  Perhaps Common Ink Cap (Coprinus altramentarius)?

Do not eat. No, don't!

Red golf balls, perhaps?

No, not a red golf ball

Pretty, though!

I came across these Fly Agaric fungi the other day. Their scientific name is Amanita muscaria, and while not deadly like their close relative, the Death Cap, Amanita phalloides, they are really not recommended for eating, as they are strongly hallucinogenic and intoxicating! The Lapps have long used the fungus for this purpose and are reported to have picked up the habit by observing their reindeer, which if they eat the fungus are similarly affected. Indeed, the reindeer apparently like it so much that one way to round up the herd is to scatter some pieces of the fungus on the ground! If just cooked and eaten, some people will be greatly affected by hallucinations and, after dizziness and a stupor, will wake on a considerable high, but others will be hardly affected.
After careful reflection, I have decided to keep the location to myself!


Malcolm

The Blusher (Amanita rubescens)

An edible mushroom growing under pine trees in our garden

Carl