Corals

    The Waxcap hunts over the past two weeks have not only produced some nice waxcaps but a number of nice coral fungi too.  When you find a good area for waxcaps you nearly always find coral fungus, earth tongue and members of the club family too, these groups all love the same conditions, short grass sheep pasture being one.

   With this post I'd like to show the different corals that I have uncovered, from the commonly found Meadow Coral to the amazing Beige Coral, all looking fabulous tucked away among the grass and moss.

   My first coral find was a beautiful bunch of Meadow Coral (Clavulinopsis corniculata). This wonderful bright yellow coral is a common sight in these early winter months, tho can be difficult to spot in longer grass.

    People would think being bright yellow Meadow Coral would be easy to find but I can assure you it's not always that simple. I have spent hours looking for corals without success but like many fungi once you sport the first one you then seem to find more.

   My second example of coral to be uncovered was a nice dense clump of Crested Coral (Clavulina coralloides). This ivory/white coral was found on a nice area of mossy grass that the sheep had left very short before being moved to their winter pasture.

    The third clump of coral really had me excited. It was yet another first for me and what a stunning one it was too. It was a huge clump of Beige Coral (Clavulinopsis umbrinella).

   Beige Coral is not a common fungus, alone with Violet Coral they are only found when conditions are perfect, nearly always on this kind of pasture. To say I was pleased was an understatement and adding to the treasures this waxcap sight has already given up to me.

  All in all this site is without doubt fast becoming my best grassland area and I seem to find something new on every trip. I feel very lucky having such a fruitful site only a few miles from my home and plan to continue searching it long into winter, weather conditions allowing.



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