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Department of History and Philosophy of Science

 

Nick Jardine's report on the Annual Cabinet of Natural History Fungus Hunt, which was held on 23 October 2006.

We visited Bradfield Woods where there was a remarkable display of fungi. Two edible species. One was the beautiful orange Hygrocybe pratensis (Meadow Wax Cap). This usually grows, as its name implies, in meadows, but was here found at the very edge of the wood by Tamara and Sadie. The other was the uncommon Leccinum carpini (Brown Hornbeam Bolete), found by David Singerman. Hornbeam does not grow in the wood, but this rarity also grows under oak, as here. Marina fried these in butter. They were delicious.

Alas, what looked like a beautiful Wood Mushroom (Agaricus silvicola), found by David Feller, turned out to be the mildly poisonous Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthoderma). It wasn't actually staining yellow, the usual sign. However, the Wood Mushroom smells of bitter almonds or cyanide, and this didn't. Microscopic examination showed it to be the nasty one. It just shows how very careful one has to be. Please don't eat anything without getting it checked by a trusted expert.

As well as the edibles, an extraordinary dozen species new to the wood were found, many of them very small and spotted by the lynx eyes of Max Wintroub. I say extraordinary, because the fungus hunt has been to Bradfield Woods at least four times before, and I have gone there another ten or so times. It really is the most remarkable fungus season I can remember.

SadieD.A. Feller and Lisa MullinsNick Jardine scrutinisingSpoils of the dayMarasmius ramealisLeucopaxillus giganteus

Charlotte Arnold with the rare edible Leccinum carpiniD.A. Feller with Leucopaxillus giganteus Eva, Joab Rosenberg, Charlotte Arnold, Lisa Mullins, Jenny Rampling, Tamara Hug, Nick Jardine, Jill Howard, David Feller (back row), Max Wintroub (front), Heather Brink-Roby, Shelly Innes, Michael Wintroub, Anne Secord, Helene