Pembrokeshire Fungus Recorder Issue 1/2013

Home , Daldinia concentrica, Hygrocybe conica, Meripilus giganteus, Microglossum viride

Published quarterly by the Pembrokeshire Fungus Recording Network www.pembsfungi.org.uk

Contents

Fungus records Bovista limosa - a new County RDL species Autumn foray notes Conservation news H. olivaceonigra - Rediscovered at Stackpole (DJH) 2013 Recording project - Daldinia

Photo: Sarcomyxa serotina

Introduction

This edition rounds off our 2012 2012 Rainfall (mm) mycological year with reports of two 250 remarkable finds from Stackpole - a site that continues to throw up rare or 200 unusual species with the prospect of 150 Average much more to discover. 2012 100 (Weather data courtesy of FSC, Orielton & CCW Environmental 50 Change Network). 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Our regular Fungus records section is well supported by woodland records, and includes reports from two of our Autumn forays. A report on the Freshwater East event held on Wales Fungus Day has been held over to the next issue with the promise of some interesting records.

A section on Conservation news brings us up to date on recent developments in Wales of mycological interest. We round off the newsletter with details of our 2013 Recording project which can involve all of us through the Spring and provide information about the Pembrokeshire distribution of “Cramp Balls” (or “King Alfred’s Cakes”) and close relatives.

Our rainfall chart shows just how wet the last 3 quarters of the year were. The indications are that overall fungus records for the year will be well down on previous years. Let’s hope that 2013 brings more suitable weather for fungal fruiting, and a healthy and prductive year for the recording network. Happy New Year.

David Harries, PFRN coordinator ([email protected]) January 2013 Fungus records

In a season noted for its lack of grassland species, we were especially grateful for the stream of records from our woodland enthusiasts. Mike Karpaty, in particular, kept us well supplied with nice examples including this fine example of Meripilus giganteus (Giant Polypore) observed at the base of a Beech trunk in woodland at Minwear.

Meripilus giganteus is similar to Gri- fola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) but is larger, growing up to 80 cm. across, and blackens when bruised. It consists of numerous leaf- or fan-shaped caps with the underside of each cap cov- ered in pores from which the spores are released when mature.

Another of Mike’s woodland finds, this time from Tenby, was an attractive example of Inocybe geophylla (White Fibrecap). This species, which was growing from a mossy earth bank, is one of the more poisonous Fibrecap species.

Left: Inocybe geophylla (© Mike Karpaty) Right: Microglossum viride (© Matt Sutton) Matt Sutton continues to find interesting specimens at Wyndrush Farm. A collection of Microglossum viride (Green Earthtongue) turned up on a hedgebank in late November: the first Pembrokeshire record for this species. This is a woodland relative of the UK BAP species Microglossum olivaceum (Olive Earthtongue). M. viride has a scurfy or roughened stem which helps distinguish from the smooth-stemmed M. olivaceum.

Another striking find reported by Mike Karpaty was Sarcomyxa serotina* (Olive Oysterling) forming clusters of kidney- shaped fruiting bodies up to 40 mm. across on dead wood near Tenby.

This species seemed to benefit from the wet weather as further records cropped up as the year progressed.

* formerly known as Panellus serotinus 2 Bovista limosa - a new County red data species from Stackpole (DJH)

Philip Jones recently suggested we look out for the red data list species Bovista limosa (Least Bovist) - a small rabbit-dropping sized puffball. Philip regularly finds the species near the coast at Pembrey and suggested our coastal dune areas might offer suitable habitat. According to Pegler et.al. (1995) B. limosa favours dune habitat in Wales and Lancashire but is easily overlooked.

Following Philip's advice, I kept a lookout for this species on a recent walk at Stackpole and was rewarded with a find of two nice specimens. These were almost spherical fruit bodies, pale-buff in colour, measuring just 10 and 12 mm. in diameter, on a patch of rabbit-grazed, thin sandy soil over limestone - just a stone's throw from the coastal edge. Microscopy confirmed the spores and internal structure fitted the species description and, following confirmation of the identification by Philip, the voucher specimens were deposited with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The FRD shows 26 records, but many appear to be duplicated. The lack of full date information for red data list species on this system (one has to ask why such useful information is withheld from public view?) and the lack of any recent records on the FRD, makes it difficult to assess the current situation, but it may be that there are as few as 6 records from just 5 coastal vice-counties with the Welsh records coming from Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire and Anglesey. In any case, it seems to be a rarely recorded species and another valuable record for Pembrokeshire.

Reference: British Puffballs, Earthstars and Stinkhorns (Pegler, Laessoe & Spooner, 1995)

Autumn Foray notes (DJH)

The first of the autumn recording visits was to private land at Fronlas Farm near Rosebush by kind invitation of the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins. The weather was fine, and we kicked of with a colourful collection of Aleuria aurantia (Orange Peel Fungus) (photo: lower left) in the car park near Rose- bush. Once at the farm, we managed a creditable collection of grassland fungi including 9 waxcap species as well as the red data list Clavaria straminea (Straw Club) and a fine example of Clavulinop- sis fusiformis (photo: lower right). In total, 18 species were recorded at Fronlas before the party moved on to visit several cemeteries in the area including Crymych where Clavaria zollingeri (Violet Coral) put in a welcome appearance.

3 The second recording foray was held on October 14th at Freshwater East to coincide with Wales Fungus Day. This event, held jointly with members of the Freshwater East Nature Reserve group, produced some very interesting finds which will be reported in the next newsletter.

The final autumn event was held on 3rd November 2012 at Pengelli Forest by arrangement with the Wildlife Trust of Mid and West Wales. Although well supported, the mycological interest on the day was limited, showing just how variable a year it had been for fungi. Fortunately a combination of excellent company, reasonable weather and fine venue made for an enjoyable excursion.

Advance party with K. Mason in foreground. K. Meatyard with Common earthball.

Relatively common species included Scleroder- ma citrinum (Common Earthball) and the inevita- ble Armillaria mellea (Honey Fungus).

Other finds included a fine example of the poisonous and uncommon Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel) (photo: right) collected by Kevin Mason (always a reliable spotter), and a solitary example of Pluteus cervinus (Deer Shield) (photo: lower right) found by Jane Hodg- es.

Marasmius androsaceus (Horsehair Parachute). This small species with a distinctly hair-like stem was spotted growing from an Oak leaf by Mike Karpaty.

4 Conservation News (DJH)

UK Fungus Day

Following on from the success of the Wales Fungus Day (2012) organised by Bruce Langridge and colleagues at the National Botanic Gardens Wales, mycologists across the UK are developing plans for a UK Fungus Day on Sunday 13th October 2013. Details will be published shortly, but the hope is for widespread support from local fungus groups, especially on or around the designated date. Locally, we will ensure that our programme includes a recording event on the day.

British Mycological Society

From 1st January 2013 I assumed the role of Coordinator of the BMS Recording Network taking over the role from Sheila Spence (Gwent Fungus Group). The main responsibilities are to ensure the continuing flow of information between local recording groups and the BMS, organise the biennial group leaders' meeting, and to participate in meetings of the BMS Field Mycology and Conservation committee.

Plantlife Wales

The position held by Ray Woods until his retirement earlier this year has now been filled. The new Lower Plants Con- servation Officer is Dave Lamacraft (photo © Alan Hale) who has been seconded from RSPB Wales for 3 days/week. Dave will be working closely with Tim Wilkins (Lichen and Bryophyte Species Recovery Co-ordinator) to deliver a programme of lower plant and fungi conservation in Wales. As in Scotland, they plan to draw on the expertise of key external partners to help inform the development of the programme.

Dave has worked for RSPB for around 12 years, primarily involved in delivering habitat management for sites in conjunction with partners such as the National Trust and the Countryside Council for Wales. Recent work has included a project to monitor lichen and bryophyte SSSI features on RSPB reserves.

Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP)

Minutes from the latest meeting of the WBP steering group (November 2012), and related corre- spondence from the Pembrokeshire Biodiversity Officer (Ant Rogers), contained two items of particular interest:

A review has highlighted “waxcap-grassland” communities as a key gap in the Section 42 list. Stephen Bladwell (RSPB (Species Expert Group)/Wales Environment Link) is developing a proposal to address this to take back to the WBP steering group in February 2013. Dave Lamacraft is working on the proposal and has been in touch to advise us of progress.

Note: Section 42 of The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) requires that a list of species and habitats of principal importance in Wales is maintained. This list then provides a key reference for public bodies to ensure they have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise of their activities.

5 The second item of interest is that the National Museum Wales has been asked by the Welsh Government to undertake a “needs and provision review of taxonomy and identification skills” across both professional and amateur sectors in Wales. The work will be led by Dr. Graham Oliver who is based at the NMW.

[Comment: It should be noted that a similar issue has been raised in England and is being addressed through the estanlishement of a Field Studies Council Biodiversity Fellows programme. This is funded by the Defra Fund for Biodiversity in the Voluntary Sector administered by Natural England.]

Ash dieback

Recent months have seen an increasing number of Two websites with useful information are reports of Ash dieback, a serious disease of ash trees maintained by the Forestry Commission and caused by a fungus called Chalara fraxinea. The BSBI: disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback in affected trees, and usually leads to tree death. The www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara majority of cases in the UK have been in relatively recent plantations, including one in west www.bsbi.org.uk/ash_dieback.html Carmarthenshire.

The potential loss of a significant number of ash trees poses a threat to other species including fungi. At the request of Plantlife (Plantlink) the British Mycological Society, in conjunction with Kew, has used records held on the Fungus Records Database to identify 66 fungal species which have a significant link with, or dependence on, ash. The hope is that some of our native UK ash trees will possess a degree of resistance to the fungus.

Hygrocybe olivaceonigra - Rediscovered at Stackpole (DJH)

A potentially interesting find turned up in October when I was showing visitors, Christine and Spike Walker, some of the dune and coastal-grassland highlights at Stackpole.

Whilst pointing out some examples of Hygrocybe conicoides (the Dune waxcap) I noticed a single example of a well camouflaged olive-green waxcap just a few inches away. It would have been easy to overlook.

I recognised the specimen as likely candi- date for Hygrocybe olivaceonigra based on the photograph and description in the stand- ard work on waxcaps by Boertmann (2010).

The specimen was photographed and then collected and dried before sending to Mar- tyn Ainsworth at Kew for the waxap DNA barcoding project.

6 It seems likely that Stackpole is a stronghold for this species (if indeed it proves to be a good species) with a number of earlier observations from the same site: two records in October and November 1987 by Maurice Rotheroe, and a single record in 1994 by Peter James.

This species, or at least its name, has an intriguing history.

It was first described by the British mycologist Peter Orton in 1960, based on a specimen collected by E. A. Ellis from Holkam Gap Dunes in Norfolk in 1958. Orton described the species in the Transactions of the British Mycological Society under the name Hygrophorus olivaceoniger and deposited his notes, painting and a spore deposit with Kew where they are retained in the herbarium as the type specimen.

In 1967, the Austrian mycologist, Meinhard Moser, assigned the species to the Hygrocybe genus as “Hygrocybe olivaceonigra (P.D. Orton) M.M. Moser”.

In 1974, Eef Arnolds reassigned the species as a variety: “Hygrocybe conica var. olivaceonigra (P.D. Orton) Arnolds”

Authors have continued to alternate between “species” and “variety” as shown in the table below which lists the major references used by mycologists in recent years.

Selected references showing name used for the species Reference Name used Checklist of British & Irish basidiomycetes (Dec. 2012) Hygrocybe conica var. olivaceonigra Boertmann in The genus Hygrocybe (2010) Hygrocybe olivaceonigra Boertmann in The genus Hygrocybe (1995) Hygrocybe conica var. olivaceonigra Courtecuisse in Mushrooms and Toadstools, Collins (1995) Hygrocybe olivaceonigra Arnolds in Flora Agaricina Neerlandica 2 (1990) Hygrocybe conica var. olivaceonigra Orton in Trans. Brit. Mycol, Soc. 43 (2), (1960) Hygrophorus olivaceoniger sp.nov

Over the years there has been much debate regarding this and other blackening waxcaps and their relationship to one another. Some authorities have tended towards “lumping” all or most of the blackening waxcaps together as varieties of Hygrocybe conica. Others have tended to “split” the group into numerous separate species.

Currently, the only two blackening waxcaps treated as “good” species in the Checklist of British & Irish basidiomycetes are Hygrocybe conica (Blackening waxcap) and Hygrocybe conicoides (Dune waxcap).

Hopefully our specimen, which fits well with Orton's original description, will have its position in the Hygrocybe genus better defined once the DNA se- quencing work at Kew is completed.

Copy of the original type specimen painting reproduced by permission of RBG Kew.

7 2013 recording project -Daldinia

Each year we try to explore a new aspect of fungal interest or species distribution in Pembrokeshire. This year we are concentrating on the genus Daldinia from a class of fungi known as pyrenomycetes. The name pyrenomycete derives from Greek and refers to the resemblance of the fruit bodies (ascocarps) to stones in fruit. The spores are contained in flask shaped structures (perithecia) with an opening at the top from which the spores are released. The perithecia are embedded in the charcoal- like ascocarps which typically measure from 10 - 50 mm. across dependng on the species.

The fungus may be present in living wood, but does not develop its mycelium until the wood dies and the sap dries up. At this stage the fungus becomes active and causes white rot decay of the wood as it degrades both the lignin and cellulose of the structure.

The most widespread British species is Daldinia concentrica (King Alfred's Cakes or Cramp Balls) - a very conspicuous fungus which is usually found on dead branches of ash. Less commonly this species may be found on beech, sycamore and occasionally Prunus sp. (e.g. blackthorn).

The UK records database indicates that 5 additional Daldinia species have been recorded in the British Isles. These include 2 known from Pembrokeshire: Daldinia caldariorum, with 1 record out of 4 nationally, and Daldinia fissa, with 2 records out of 175 Top: Daldinia fissa on gorse nationally. Both species were recorded on burnt Left: Daldinia concentrica on sycamore gorse.

In order to learn more about the distribution of Daldinia species in the County - and perhaps extend the existing list - we would like members to photograph and collect specimens.

Specimens should NOT be collected from ash, but should be collected from any other dead wood - especially alder, beech, birch, gorse, hazel, hornbeam, sycamore and any Prunus species. especially look out for Daldinia on any wood damaged by fire in previous years.

Samples should be kept dry and stored in a paper bag or envelope (not plastic) with details of collection date, location and wood-species. The specimens will be inspected using chemical tests and microscopy to establish the species. Specimens may be passed to David Harries, Jane Hodges or Trevor Theobald or alternatively, please contact me (DJH) on 01646 661340 to arrange for handover of the samples. Reference: Johannesson, H. (2000) Ecology of Daldinia spp. with special emphasis on Daldinia loculata. Fournier, J. and Stadler, M. (2009) Dichotomous key to European species of Daldinia