With the weather still mild, and following all the recent relentless rain, an interesting scatter of little fungi has appeared on the front meadow. I am identifying it as the Snowy waxcap, Cuphophyllus virgineus, which has a wide global distribution in northern temperate areas.
It looks superficially like an edible mushroom, but is distinctly white all over and a little shiny on top. The gills are decurrent, almost translucent, and there is no annulus. The cap is flat or slightly depressed on the older specimens. It is known to grow in old, unimproved, short-sward grassland including lawns. This is a further indication that the front meadow has not been spoilt by fertilisers, moss-killers etc and fits with its evident suitability for orchid colonisation. Although apparently considered good to eat we will not be taking any chances!
I also noticed some of these larger fungi on the ordinary back lawn, with a slightly shiny brown cap about 15cm in diameter. I don’t think it is the much sought after edible Cep or “Penny Bun”, Boletus edulis, as the stem is not thick but relatively slender. My guess is for the Birch bolete, Leccinum scabrum, but if anyone knows different please chime in. There are some silver birch trees not far away. Again, we will be relying on the supermarket rather than the lawn for our fungal nutrition.
Photos: 1. Snowy waxcaps,2. Snowy waxcap gills, 3. Birch bolete ? 4. Ageing Birch bolete?
Anthony.heys@sky.com
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