Toadstool Time

You always know Autumn has truly arrived when you start to see the various fungi appearing in the countryside. So with that in mind, we set out this morning to check on the Toadstools along the 'Farm walk'. It looks like we got our timing just right.

Several different species of fungus can be found in this area, but as always, the Fly Agarics (Amanita muscaria) are probably the most numerous and certainly the most colourful.

Ask any child to draw a picture of a 'toadstool', and chances are, they will produce something like a Fly Agaric with a red cap, spotted with white dots. But their beauty hides a dark secret as they are rather poisonous - although not deadly so. They contain various psychoactive substances including Ibotenic Acid and Muscimol, which give the fungi their hallucinogenic properties.

So, best to just enjoy their colourful addition to the countryside rather than picking them for lunch!

Much smaller and easily overlooked, was this little collection of Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon.)  The name comes from the fungus' resemblance to the wick of a snuffed-out candle. As the fungus grows, the tips branch out, giving rise to their other name 'Stag's Horn Fungus.'

That's it for today. Hopefully, there will be lots more fungi to come in the next few weeks.