Two Tricholomas

There's a part of Kilvey in walking distance that I go to often that seems very rich in fungi because I keep finding species there. This year I have discovered two new species I have not encountered before. It's not a large area, not much bigger than my back garden and even though it's not off the beaten track, I think because it's out of the way and sheltered from people it has thrived.
Both are tricholomas. I identified this as Tricholoma sejunctum/Deceiving Knight. This was found on 8/8/10


The second is possibly Tricholoma columbetta found on 22/8/10.

Quick Kilvey Foray

Even though I have a bit of a cold I go up Kilvey for a quick look around.
From where I am, I can see smoke coming from somewhere near the summit so some one has set fire to the trees again. The damage already done has been pretty bad this year and it's a depressing sight to see. It also makes me angry and I'm in two minds about going up but go anyway because while I'm not concerned by the fire I don't fancy encountering the people who may have started it.


On the way there I find a few Leccinum scabrum/Birch Boletes still fruiting. This year they have been few in numbers but constant, for two months at least and also quite large.



Starting at the Pentre-chwych rd entrance I take a right over the stream to go up to the top. The soil and leaf litter's very dry and parched and I come across nothing for quite sometime until half way up. Already the damage done by burning trees is apparent.

There is the odd Russula ochroleuca but I expect if I went to the transmitters I would find dozens as they carpet the hill for a few months.


There is another Russula here. It looks like Russula emetica/the Sickener and there a quite a few all closely together, in stages of fruiting and condition: the hot weather and slugs have taken their toll on some specimens. I take two to identify later.


There are couple of other things; Tricolomopsis rutilans and Suillus grevillei.
The smoke from the fires above wafts down so I decide to call it a day but have a quick look on the opposite side of pentre-chwyth road where there are still Russula betularum and Paxillus involutus about. These two fungi have been fruiting constantly for the last two months in great numbers.

Kilvey Hill. 31-8-10
Tricolomoposis rutilans/Plums and Custard
Russula ochreleuca/Ochre brittlegill
Russula emetica/The Sickener
Suillus grevellei/Larch bolete
Leccinum scabrum/Birch bolete
Russula betularum/Birch Brittlegill
Paxillus involutus/Brown Rollrim

Today

Spent a few hours identifying two fungi that I personally found hard to identify. It's either because of the appearance, so many grey, nondescript species, etc, or strangeness. Some types of fungi are rare or just do not fruit often.
There are common species that don't fruit every year or very little. Even Amanita muscaria, which is well known, may not fruit in numbers every year. I wonder why.
The problem with field identification for an amateur like myself is the time it takes. It's a labour of love. My advice; take your time..

Below is, I hesitate to say, is what I think is Tricholoma sejunctum/Deceiving Knight


And this is Psathyrella candolleana/Pale Brittlestem

New year

Above is Amanita rubescens, which is always the first of the Amanita family that appear.

Below is an earthball that's growing in my back yard. I was excited to see it since I throw all the species I find into in my garden, backyard to be eaten by insects. Will identify it later.


It's been ages since my last blog, apologies, lots going on..At least I'm back