Fungi at Cosmeston

20 Friday Oct 2023

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British fungi, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Entoloma incanum, Honey waxcap, Hygrocybe acutoconica, Hygrocybe reidii, Mousepee pinkgill, Persistent waxcap

After a few wet, grey and gusty days being battered by Storm Babet, I thought we could do with some Friday night bright colour so here are some recent fungi finds from Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.

231020 cosmeston fungi (2)

The fungi above are Persistent waxcap (Hygrocybe acutoconica), the yellow beauties at the top above, and Mousepee pinkgill (Entoloma incanum), the lovely little green mushroom with the wonderful name. And, below, these are all Honey waxcaps (Hygrocybe reidii), in various stages of development.

231020 cosmeston fungi (1)

Hygrocybe acutoconica

18 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by sconzani in autumn, fungi

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fungus, Hygrocybe acutoconica, Persistent waxcap, waxcap fungi, waxcaps

Here’s another sign that autumn’s come early this year. In previous years I’ve not seen these waxcaps in my area until very late September, mostly during October, but this year they’re fruiting now, at least a month earlier than usual.

230818 Hygrocybe acutoconica (1)

These are Persistent waxcaps (Hygrocybe acutoconica). At first glance, with their conical caps and yellow-orange colour, they look very similar to Blackening waxcaps (Hygrocybe conica) but these don’t blacken. Persistents are the only waxcaps I find locally so it’s always a pleasure to see them, even if it does mean an early autumn.

230818 Hygrocybe acutoconica (2)

Persistent waxcaps

27 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in fungi

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British fungi, British waxcaps, Hygrocybe acutoconica, Persistent waxcap, waxcap fungi, waxcaps

I used to love finding waxcaps in the grounds of my local cemetery when I lived in Cardiff but hardly see any in my current area. So, it was a delight to spot these Persistent waxcaps (Hygrocybe acutoconica) in one of the paddocks at Cosmeston earlier this week.

210827 persistent waxcap (1)

Their caps range in shade from yellow to orange and, though initially moist like most waxcaps, they soon dry out and often crack as they expand, especially when growing in an exposed location. The caps start off conical (hence the epithet acutoconica), which means these fungi can sometimes be confused with other species like the Blackening waxcap (Hygrocybe conica), but these Persistent caps don’t blacken.

210827 persistent waxcap (2)

The gills and stem of this fungus also range in colour from yellow to orange, and the stem sometimes looks grooved and fibrous.

210827 persistent waxcap (3)

Persistent waxcaps are most often found in unfertilised grasslands, particularly on calcareous soils, and can also pop up on sandy soils and even amongst sand dunes.