Only just seen this post. I agree that it is most likely to be Amanita rubescens, The Blusher. A couple of checks you can make to help with i.d. - if you cut it in half lengthways the flesh should turn from white to pink and if you find an example with an intact skirt on the stem you should find that it has grooves/striations running out from the stem to the edge.
It appears much earlier in the year than the similar looking but poisonous Panthercap. Although edible when cooked the possibility of confusing it with other deadly amanitas council against trying it.
Thanks steephill. I thought you'd been an gorn on your holidays. I think there are a couple of intact ones still in the wood so I'll check. The day after I first saw the group most had been smashed, they are just through my gate into the wood so I was puzzled. Perhaps a deer or badger maybe.
I'm not sure whether I should be concerned about this find or not. It's growing under an acer and into the drystone wall behind it and behind that, there's some deciduous woodland. It's only been there a day or two at most. It wasn't there last year. My concern is that noticing the fungi I found that the acer (about 10 years old) was loose in the ground. Had tremendous wind here last week. I've staked it now but is the fungi likely to do it any harm.
Thanks pansyface. I agree, it is delightfully named and very apt. When I looked it up for a mad moment, when I saw fairy ...., I thought I'd be starting a new business flogging it on Fleabay and making my millions. I'm pleased to see that it won't do any harm to the acer.
It might be the very similar Coprinellus micaceus - Glistening Inkcap. I think the Trooping Crumble Cap (Fairy Inkcap, Coprinellus disseminatus) is lighter in colour. Either way they are SBMs. Both are claimed to be edible but not worth the effort. They feed on rotting stumps and roots so won't be doing any harm to your acer.
I missed this yesterday steephill, sorry. Yes, I think that's the one, thank you. Just been up there to check the acer's stake and they are all lying in their sides drying up. I'm pleased that I spotted them when I did. Probably there last year also but missed them.
This time last year I found chicken of the woods on a diseased oak in some woodland near me. I went out foraging this morning with my bag and knife plus the four legged mutt and walked past where I thought the oak was, not there anymore. Walked back and found oak twigs then branches and the trunk. Obviously diseased branches and part of the trunk came down in the storms and the bottom 6ft had been felled.
The area where the chicken of the woods grew was down on the ground. I'll go back in a week or two to see if it grows from elsewhere but doubt it somehow. Very disappointing as it's the only place I've seen it growing in this area. Pic from last year.
When I lived in Russia and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, I was amazed at the confidence with which locals went foraging for wild mushrooms. Whereas we were told growing up in New Zealand a flat "do not touch any fungus; it could kill you."
I'd like to learn how to ID and perhaps grow them, as the supermarket mushrooms here are really so tasteless as to not be worth eating.
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My concern is that noticing the fungi I found that the acer (about 10 years old) was loose in the ground. Had tremendous wind here last week. I've staked it now but is the fungi likely to do it any harm.
An Id would be appreciated too please?
I'm pleased to see that it won't do any harm to the acer.
Yes, I think that's the one, thank you. Just been up there to check the acer's stake and they are all lying in their sides drying up. I'm pleased that I spotted them when I did. Probably there last year also but missed them.
The area where the chicken of the woods grew was down on the ground. I'll go back in a week or two to see if it grows from elsewhere but doubt it somehow. Very disappointing as it's the only place I've seen it growing in this area.
Pic from last year.
I'd like to learn how to ID and perhaps grow them, as the supermarket mushrooms here are really so tasteless as to not be worth eating.