Sandy siltball
The strange fungus Battarrea phalloides was found near Ware in early December. Previously very rare, it is now turning up from time to time, but still a lovely find.
Sandy RSPB reserve meeting - changed arrangements
This year, at the request of the RSPB, this meeting is for HBFG members only, and pre-booking with Alan Outen is required.
A new Beds record
The group found Mycena rhenana on an old alder cone at Flitwick Moor last weekend, which is a new species record for Beds. Photo from Claudi
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A late spring species to look out for
Beautiful Lepiota
This beautiful fungus, Lepiota ochraceofulva (no English name), was found by Margaret and Steve under a cedar in south Herts just before Christmas. Its definition is attributed to the famous mycologist Peter Orton, who gave our Recorder Alan a lot of encouragement in his study of fungi when Alan was a young man.
There are only 41 records of Lepiota ochraceofulva in the new BMS database (FRDBI) but I know that not all historical records have yet been transferred across to it. Marcel Bon says it is “uncommon” and Alan has confirmed that it is a new county record for Herts.
Pat
Bolete news from Kerry
Kerry and Glenda have sent me this photo of the fungus they recently found near Cottered - the Iodine bonnet (Hemileccinum impolitum aka Boletus impolitus). Its English name derives from the smell you get when you cut the stem. The epithet "impolitus" means "rough" or "unpolished" and refers to the appearance of its cap, which some people describe as looking as if it has been knocked about with a hammer.