September
September 2010 (updated on Wednesday 1 September)
This was the seventh (septem) month of the Roman Year - hence its name!
August was a mixture of weather with average rainfall and very few really hot sunny days. The moorland (see picture below, top left) is at its peak right now with the purple heather contrasting with the bright yellow colour of the western gorse.
The gorse is also host to masses of common dodder (see picture below, top right). Dodder is a true parasitic plant but unlike other parasitic plants such as mistletoe, which have green leaves and only extract water and nutrients from host plants, dodder has no leaves and must extract carbohydrates from the host plant.
Late Summer/ Early Autumn Fungi
The warm wet conditions have been ideal for fungi.
Fungi are neither plants (they don’t have chlorophyll) or animals and are now recognised as a kingdom in their own right. The problem for the amateur enthusiast is that there are so many of them…..several thousand in the UK alone.
Fungi like the warm moist conditions that we have experienced in August and early September. The result of this has been a bumper crop of chanterelles (see picture below bottom left) and ceps. Both of these are highly prized edible species that seem to do well on the acid soils of Dartmoor.
The violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus - see picture below bottom right)) is a rare species that has been scarce for the last few years. Although it is purple it gives a rust coloured spore print and its edibility is usually described as unknown or suspect. Many of the Cortinarius are poisonous and are best identified by their rusty brown spore prints and there are usually traces of a web around the stem and below the cap. The Cortinarius are the largest family of fungi both in the UK and in the world.
Future Events -
STOP PRESS – Fungi Foray on Saturday 11th September at 09.30
Due to a cancellation of another event I now have a slot to do a Fungi Foray this Saturday morning, September 11th. Starts at 09.30 from Trendlebere Down Lower Car Park and finishes at 12.30.
Because of all the rain and moisture there are loads about including chanterelles and ceps.
Cost is £5.00 per head. For further information/bookings ring me on 0785 8421 148
Fungi Forays
Start from Trendlebere Down, Lower Car Park (Bovey Tracey end) at 13.30 on Wednesday 29 September and 10.00 Sunday 31 October. Approx. 3 hours. £5.00 per adult (under 14s are free)
This was the seventh (septem) month of the Roman Year - hence its name!
August was a mixture of weather with average rainfall and very few really hot sunny days. The moorland (see picture below, top left) is at its peak right now with the purple heather contrasting with the bright yellow colour of the western gorse.
The gorse is also host to masses of common dodder (see picture below, top right). Dodder is a true parasitic plant but unlike other parasitic plants such as mistletoe, which have green leaves and only extract water and nutrients from host plants, dodder has no leaves and must extract carbohydrates from the host plant.
Late Summer/ Early Autumn Fungi
The warm wet conditions have been ideal for fungi.
Fungi are neither plants (they don’t have chlorophyll) or animals and are now recognised as a kingdom in their own right. The problem for the amateur enthusiast is that there are so many of them…..several thousand in the UK alone.
Fungi like the warm moist conditions that we have experienced in August and early September. The result of this has been a bumper crop of chanterelles (see picture below bottom left) and ceps. Both of these are highly prized edible species that seem to do well on the acid soils of Dartmoor.
The violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus - see picture below bottom right)) is a rare species that has been scarce for the last few years. Although it is purple it gives a rust coloured spore print and its edibility is usually described as unknown or suspect. Many of the Cortinarius are poisonous and are best identified by their rusty brown spore prints and there are usually traces of a web around the stem and below the cap. The Cortinarius are the largest family of fungi both in the UK and in the world.
Future Events -
STOP PRESS – Fungi Foray on Saturday 11th September at 09.30
Due to a cancellation of another event I now have a slot to do a Fungi Foray this Saturday morning, September 11th. Starts at 09.30 from Trendlebere Down Lower Car Park and finishes at 12.30.
Because of all the rain and moisture there are loads about including chanterelles and ceps.
Cost is £5.00 per head. For further information/bookings ring me on 0785 8421 148
Fungi Forays
Start from Trendlebere Down, Lower Car Park (Bovey Tracey end) at 13.30 on Wednesday 29 September and 10.00 Sunday 31 October. Approx. 3 hours. £5.00 per adult (under 14s are free)
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