Charnwood Lodge Fungi 2

More Charnwood Lodge Fungi Fun – 17 November 2025

Working on the usual premise that the fungi we see is the result of the fungi producing fruiting bodies to come above ground generally in the form of ‘toad stool’ type structures I was suddenly immersed in two new types of fungi and its causes.

It started as a Waxcap hunt in Marl Field at Charnwood Lodge along with LNC Member Howard Orridge and one of the Fungi Group members Sue Timms, following a previous visit’s finds.

I had previously found this stunning species Pink Waxcap – Porpolomopsis calyptriformis in the field as a single example but was frustrated in not finding a regular find – the Parrot Waxcap – Gliophorus psittacinus. Later, I found that the green colour can and does wash off but as can be seen in these photos is retained under the cap.

I had seen reports of LRWT West Reserve Lead – Andy Nielson finding a Scarlet Caterpillarclub – Cordyceps militaris. Not knowing exactly where, I was pleased to find my own example. This curious fungi found in grasslands or on the edge of woodlands find a buried Larva or pupa of a moth. It parasitises its host, turning it into a mushy mess and then pushing up through the turf as a bright orange club.

We later moved onto Heather Field and Sue was delighted to find another strange fungi, called the Powdercap Strangler Squamanita paradoxa. This strange fungus attacks another grassland mushroom the Earthy Powdercap, taking over its host so that a cap and upper stem grows out of its lower stem. This rare fungus is possibly only the second record in Leicestershire and there are less than 40 reported records across the UK.

Margaret McLoughlin