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BMS forays in 1991
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BMS FORAYS IN 1991 In July the Upland Foray visited the islands of Orkney, at the request of our past President, Roy Watling. The party was divided and some stayed in comparative luxury on Mainland while the rest were accommodated in the youth hostel on Hoy, which turned out to be well-equipped, comfortable and entirely satisfactory for a foray! The sailings of the foot ferry between Hoy and Stromness became the arbiter of our foray times and locations but we did manage to reach the islands of Rousay and Shapinsay as well as all parts of Mainland and the islands joined to it by causeways, and to many parts of Hoy. The highest point in the islands is Ward Hill on Hoy and this was the site for a memorable day's foraying, with fantastic views of the whole archipelago and fascinating fell-field communities, not entirely lacking in mycological interest. Rhytisma salicinum on Salix herbacea was noted and the litter of several arctic-alpines yielded small agarics and discomycetes. Gloeosporium alpinum on Arctostaphylos alpinus is probably a new British record. The bonxies resented our intrusion and the Foray Secretary nearly lost his wife! Woodland is scarce on Orkney, with only the birchwood at Berriedale having any claim to be natural. Unfortunately we chose one of the wetter days to visit this remote site but a number of northern mycorrhizal species were found, such as Russula scotica. Rusts, smuts, mildews and myxomycetes were all well recorded with several additions to the Orkney list. The rare auriculariaceous Stilbum vulgare was found on sycamore sticks in the grounds of Balfour Castle, looking like a gelatinous myxomycete. The highlight for many members was seeing the Scottish Primrose in flower, either on Hoy or on Mainland. The many archaeological sites which somehow managed to find a place in the programme may give an unusual bias to the recording of the widespread Puccinia acetosae! The July Truffle Hunt was held at Petworth, Sussex, with excellent local arrangements made by Douglas Price. In surprisingly damp conditions for 1991 forays were made to Petworth Park and Slindon Park, both properties of the National Trust, and to The Mens and Cut and Ebernoe Common, reserves of the Sussex Naturalists' Trust. Five species of hypogeous fungi were found: Elaphomyces granulatus, E. muricatus, Melanogaster ambiguus, M. broomeianus and Hydnotrya tulasnei. A few other specimens were collected but names have not been communicated! Useful records of other fungi were made, including seven species of Amanita, six boletes, chanterelle and sixteen myxomycetes of which the rare Fuligo ruie is new to this well-recorded county. The Autumn Foray was based at Moulton College of Agriculture, Northampton, and was very well organised by Jerry Cooper. As in 1990 conditions were very dry, as indicated by the 55 species of powdery mildew, which was only one short of last year's record total. Sites were visited in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire and were mostly in ancient woodland sites of high conservation importance, including remnants of the Forest of Rockingham. The foray dinner was held in the village of Apethorpe where the Rev M J Berkeley was rector and we enjoyed the company of the present incumbent as our guest. One unusual habitat proved very productive, namely the dead leaves and stems of Daphne laureola which was abundant at Yardley Chase. Several rare species were associated with this substrate, some new to Britain, including Circinotrichum maculiforme, Oncopodiella trigonella, Phaeoisaria clematidis and Excipularia fusispora. Peter Roberts continued his remarkable run of finding new and exciting Heterobasidiomycetes with the first UK record of Oliveonia nigra and also
159
demonstrated the incredible spores of some Tulasnella species and their relatives. Microfungi were well recorded including first records of a powdery mildew, Sawadaea tulasnei on Acer negundo, found at three sites in Northamptonshire. Jerry Cooper had spotted it at Hull just before the foray and it has more recently been found at Kew. It is characteristic of central and eastern Europe where it usually attacks A. platanoides. Its arrival in Britain may be evidence of climatic change. Other species of interest were Microsphaera astragali on wild liquorice at Bedford Purlieus, Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae on sloe at Salcey Forest, the rare myxomycete Cribraria macrocarpa at Flitwick and the rare discomycete Thecotheus cinereus on dung of fallow deer from Bedford Purlieus. Macrofungi were not neglected and several interesting agarics were found, such as Oudemansiella pudens, Laccaria purpureobadia, Agaricus bohusii and Melanophyllum echinatum. The alder swamp at Flitwick Moor was very productive in all groups but proved dangerous for the Foray Secretary who, while attempting to collect an undoubtedly unique specimen, fell full-length into thick, black peat and was not popular for the rest of the day, especially in the bus back to Northampton! In spite of the continued drought the foray was highly successful, with good facilities and excellent company, and not least, in the wide range of new and interesting fungi found, which would have delighted Berkeley himself. The Overseas Foray in late September was hosted by the Danish Mycological Society and we were accommodated at the Rcnsheved Residential High School on the Flensbergfjord close to the border with Germany. We were fed and watered to a high standard and had good working facilities. The excursions took us to a variety of woodland, wetland, dune and grassland sites in the rather featureless landscape of South Jutland. The sites were productive and several fungi which are rare or confined to the south in England were widespread and abundant, such as Mycena crocata and Marasmius alliaceus which was so common that the woodland litter smelled strongly of garlic as we walked on it. The forest rides had abundant Impatiens noli-tangere with its powdery mildew Sphaerotheca balsaminae; both are rare in Britain. Fungi were far more abundant than in comparable woods in the UK and the state forests are clearly managed with conservation as well as timber production in mind. Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Coprinus picaeus, numerous Cortinarius spp, Fomitopsis pinicola, Gloeophyllum odoratum, many Hebeloma spp, Hydropus subalpinus, Hygrophorus penarius, many Inocybe spp, Marasmius bulliardii, M. quercophilus, M. torquescens, numerous Mycena spp, Pholiota jahnii, Podostroma alutaceum and many Russula spp were new to many British members and are rare or absent in the UK. The presence of several specialists meant that the larger genera were well studied and recorded. The dunes on Reme island yielded Phallus hadriani and Cyathus stercoreus in its only Danish locality, ecologically identical with its Welsh sites. The causeway to the island allowed wonderful views of the marshes and migrating waders, including thousands of avocets, and several marsh harriers. The strong gale we experienced at this site also justified the large number of wind-powered generators that are so prominent in the area. An area of willow carr, surrounded by reedmarsh in the 'King's Moss' provided excellent specimens of Hypocreopsis lichenoides, rare in Denmark as it is elsewhere. Myxomycetes were plentiful and a number of species was added to the Danish list, particularly species from the bark of living trees. The rich and varied woodland, the abundant and exciting fungi and the colourful, historic towns all contributed to a fine foray but it is the warm hospitality and the companionship of our Danish colleagues which will remain longest in the memory. Our thanks are due to Thomas Laessee and Jan Vesterholt for arranging such an excellent trip. Bruce Itig, Foray Secretary
BMS FORAYS IN 1991 In July the Upland Foray visited the islands of Orkney, at the request of our past President, Roy Watling. The party was divided and some stayed in comparative luxury on Mainland while the rest were accommodated in the youth hostel on Hoy, which turned out to be well-equipped, comfortable and entirely satisfactory for a foray! The sailings of the foot ferry between Hoy and Stromness became the arbiter of our foray times and locations but we did manage to reach the islands of Rousay and Shapinsay as well as all parts of Mainland and the islands joined to it by causeways, and to many parts of Hoy. The highest point in the islands is Ward Hill on Hoy and this was the site for a memorable day's foraying, with fantastic views of the whole archipelago and fascinating fell-field communities, not entirely lacking in mycological interest. Rhytisma salicinum on Salix herbacea was noted and the litter of several arctic-alpines yielded small agarics and discomycetes. Gloeosporium alpinum on Arctostaphylos alpinus is probably a new British record. The bonxies resented our intrusion and the Foray Secretary nearly lost his wife! Woodland is scarce on Orkney, with only the birchwood at Berriedale having any claim to be natural. Unfortunately we chose one of the wetter days to visit this remote site but a number of northern mycorrhizal species were found, such as Russula scotica. Rusts, smuts, mildews and myxomycetes were all well recorded with several additions to the Orkney list. The rare auriculariaceous Stilbum vulgare was found on sycamore sticks in the grounds of Balfour Castle, looking like a gelatinous myxomycete. The highlight for many members was seeing the Scottish Primrose in flower, either on Hoy or on Mainland. The many archaeological sites which somehow managed to find a place in the programme may give an unusual bias to the recording of the widespread Puccinia acetosae! The July Truffle Hunt was held at Petworth, Sussex, with excellent local arrangements made by Douglas Price. In surprisingly damp conditions for 1991 forays were made to Petworth Park and Slindon Park, both properties of the National Trust, and to The Mens and Cut and Ebernoe Common, reserves of the Sussex Naturalists' Trust. Five species of hypogeous fungi were found: Elaphomyces granulatus, E. muricatus, Melanogaster ambiguus, M. broomeianus and Hydnotrya tulasnei. A few other specimens were collected but names have not been communicated! Useful records of other fungi were made, including seven species of Amanita, six boletes, chanterelle and sixteen myxomycetes of which the rare Fuligo ruie is new to this well-recorded county. The Autumn Foray was based at Moulton College of Agriculture, Northampton, and was very well organised by Jerry Cooper. As in 1990 conditions were very dry, as indicated by the 55 species of powdery mildew, which was only one short of last year's record total. Sites were visited in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire and were mostly in ancient woodland sites of high conservation importance, including remnants of the Forest of Rockingham. The foray dinner was held in the village of Apethorpe where the Rev M J Berkeley was rector and we enjoyed the company of the present incumbent as our guest. One unusual habitat proved very productive, namely the dead leaves and stems of Daphne laureola which was abundant at Yardley Chase. Several rare species were associated with this substrate, some new to Britain, including Circinotrichum maculiforme, Oncopodiella trigonella, Phaeoisaria clematidis and Excipularia fusispora. Peter Roberts continued his remarkable run of finding new and exciting Heterobasidiomycetes with the first UK record of Oliveonia nigra and also
159
demonstrated the incredible spores of some Tulasnella species and their relatives. Microfungi were well recorded including first records of a powdery mildew, Sawadaea tulasnei on Acer negundo, found at three sites in Northamptonshire. Jerry Cooper had spotted it at Hull just before the foray and it has more recently been found at Kew. It is characteristic of central and eastern Europe where it usually attacks A. platanoides. Its arrival in Britain may be evidence of climatic change. Other species of interest were Microsphaera astragali on wild liquorice at Bedford Purlieus, Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae on sloe at Salcey Forest, the rare myxomycete Cribraria macrocarpa at Flitwick and the rare discomycete Thecotheus cinereus on dung of fallow deer from Bedford Purlieus. Macrofungi were not neglected and several interesting agarics were found, such as Oudemansiella pudens, Laccaria purpureobadia, Agaricus bohusii and Melanophyllum echinatum. The alder swamp at Flitwick Moor was very productive in all groups but proved dangerous for the Foray Secretary who, while attempting to collect an undoubtedly unique specimen, fell full-length into thick, black peat and was not popular for the rest of the day, especially in the bus back to Northampton! In spite of the continued drought the foray was highly successful, with good facilities and excellent company, and not least, in the wide range of new and interesting fungi found, which would have delighted Berkeley himself. The Overseas Foray in late September was hosted by the Danish Mycological Society and we were accommodated at the Rcnsheved Residential High School on the Flensbergfjord close to the border with Germany. We were fed and watered to a high standard and had good working facilities. The excursions took us to a variety of woodland, wetland, dune and grassland sites in the rather featureless landscape of South Jutland. The sites were productive and several fungi which are rare or confined to the south in England were widespread and abundant, such as Mycena crocata and Marasmius alliaceus which was so common that the woodland litter smelled strongly of garlic as we walked on it. The forest rides had abundant Impatiens noli-tangere with its powdery mildew Sphaerotheca balsaminae; both are rare in Britain. Fungi were far more abundant than in comparable woods in the UK and the state forests are clearly managed with conservation as well as timber production in mind. Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Coprinus picaeus, numerous Cortinarius spp, Fomitopsis pinicola, Gloeophyllum odoratum, many Hebeloma spp, Hydropus subalpinus, Hygrophorus penarius, many Inocybe spp, Marasmius bulliardii, M. quercophilus, M. torquescens, numerous Mycena spp, Pholiota jahnii, Podostroma alutaceum and many Russula spp were new to many British members and are rare or absent in the UK. The presence of several specialists meant that the larger genera were well studied and recorded. The dunes on Reme island yielded Phallus hadriani and Cyathus stercoreus in its only Danish locality, ecologically identical with its Welsh sites. The causeway to the island allowed wonderful views of the marshes and migrating waders, including thousands of avocets, and several marsh harriers. The strong gale we experienced at this site also justified the large number of wind-powered generators that are so prominent in the area. An area of willow carr, surrounded by reedmarsh in the 'King's Moss' provided excellent specimens of Hypocreopsis lichenoides, rare in Denmark as it is elsewhere. Myxomycetes were plentiful and a number of species was added to the Danish list, particularly species from the bark of living trees. The rich and varied woodland, the abundant and exciting fungi and the colourful, historic towns all contributed to a fine foray but it is the warm hospitality and the companionship of our Danish colleagues which will remain longest in the memory. Our thanks are due to Thomas Laessee and Jan Vesterholt for arranging such an excellent trip. Bruce Itig, Foray Secretary