Fungal Foray
On Sunday 8th October, a goodly sized group of Friends went for a walk in the Pinetum to discover and identify fungi. We were guided by a local expert who has years of experience and seems to possess an encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject. As we walked, people would bring specimens or the expert would find them and then say a few words about each one.
The structures we see emerging from the ground or surface of a log are the fruiting bodies containing the spores and picking them does not kill the fungus, which lives underground or within the wood. Only collecting a few fruiting bodies every other year, as we do, doesn’t materially impact the fungus’ ability to reproduce.
On Sunday 8th October, a goodly sized group of Friends went for a walk in the Pinetum to discover and identify fungi. We were guided by a local expert who has years of experience and seems to possess an encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject. As we walked, people would bring specimens or the expert would find them and then say a few words about each one.
The structures we see emerging from the ground or surface of a log are the fruiting bodies containing the spores and picking them does not kill the fungus, which lives underground or within the wood. Only collecting a few fruiting bodies every other year, as we do, doesn’t materially impact the fungus’ ability to reproduce.
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The picture above is of a stinkhorn “egg” that we found and cut in half to show the structure. The common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) has a fruiting body that starts as a gelatinous egg-shaped structure underground, from which emerges a spongy stalk containing the spores. The stalk smells of carrion (hence the name “stinkhorn”) to attract flies to help spread the spores. The second picture is of a stinkhorn stalk, unfortunately not taken in Pinetum because we couldn’t find a whole mature one.
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Having gathered examples from a variety of habitats e.g. fallen wood, grass, leaf litter, living wood etc, we returned to one of the labs in the main building and there was a short talk on what we had found, looking at the major families, their distinguishing features and the extent to which they were safe to eat. All together, we collected some 45 or so different species, a little down on previous occasions but the ground was quite dry and many had not yet emerged.
After carefully washing our hands, many of us enjoyed a cream tea in the dining room.
After carefully washing our hands, many of us enjoyed a cream tea in the dining room.
Recent Achievements
We have started to clear an area behind the hammer gate, known as the Old Firs and Pine Wood, that has not had much attention for several years. A lot of sycamore shoots have grown up and the ground has been choked with bramble and bracken. A group of volunteers have helped us and we are making good progress. As well as improving the general appearance, clearing the ground will enable us to fell more safely some of the hardwood trees so as to let in more light for planting new conifers.
Thanks to our Curator Edward’s carpentry skills, we have replaced the treads on the Japanese style bridge above the Entrance Area hut base that had been broken by vandals. They match perfectly in size and form and will blend in seamlessly when the whole structure has been varnished.
Thanks to our Curator Edward’s carpentry skills, we have replaced the treads on the Japanese style bridge above the Entrance Area hut base that had been broken by vandals. They match perfectly in size and form and will blend in seamlessly when the whole structure has been varnished.
