Fungal Fun

Looking back at posts 12 months ago it seems that fungi are some two to three weeks earlier this year. 2007 had a drier spell at the end of August and beginning of September. Memories have not yet faded concerning 2008.

I'm fairly confident in identifying this as the Saffron Parasol, quite an elegant small specimen with a ring and flecks on the stem and a rough edged cap.














These red waxcaps just appearing don't look like the pictures in my books of the Scarlet Hood nor of the Crimson Waxcap; perhaps they are the small Hygrocybe miniata? But then there are some 63 waxcaps in the country and not all are in the books.

This one too has me puzzled. It's features look clear enough for it to be easy, but nothing is simple about fungi. Sometimes they seem to be playing with us.