QUODITCH EDUCATION DEVON

 Here are some more fungi that we have identified at Quoditch

 
Lactarius Vellereus

This one is huge and grows in a clump in the Ride. You can just see it in the foreground of the picture on our first page.  We have also found some in the woods in field five.

Birch Polypore or Razor Strop Fungus
Piptoporus Betulinus or Polyporus Betulinus

This was used at one time to sharpen razors. We were also told that it was used by entymologists as a backing to display their collections before expanded polystyrene was invented! Over the years this will gradually infiltrate the birch tree, and, after about forty or so years, will kill it.

Chanterelle - Cantharellus Cibarius

This chanterelle is recognisable not only by its rich colour but by its smell, which resembles that of fresh apricots.

This one is edible as the slug shows us. Its taste though, is quite subtle. Anyone for breakfast?

Here is a different viewpoint, taken in September 2009.

Hedgehog Fungus - Hydnum repandum

Here is another edible one. This one grows on the edge of the ride and is really tasty. It is much stronger in taste than the chanterelles. We must remember only to pick a few to enjoy, so that the spores can be released and provide new fungi for next year.

Honey Fungus - Clitocybe mellea or Armillaria mellea

This is also commonly called Bootlace fungus. It spreads by rhizomorphs under the bark of the tree. These look like long black bootlaces, hence its other name. This is a highly parasitic fungus and kills off many trees each year. It causes a white rot to appear. Not to be brought into the house in case it gets into the timbers of the home although it is supposed to be edible.

Page updated 13th September 2009

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REFERENCES

Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe, Roger Phillips   (Macmillan  Reference 1994)

Country Guides - Fungi of Britain and Northern Europe, Paul Sterry (Chancellor Press 1991)

A Magna Field Guide - Mushrooms, Mirko Svrcek (Magna Books 1994)

Encyclopaedia of Fungi - Gerrit J Keiser (Rebo Productions 1997)

 

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