Specimens found growing on a Wood Ant nest. 13 October 2007 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Convex, then flattened, coarsely roughened, deep purple to orange, to about 8 cm across Gills Thin, crowded, yellow Stem +/- equal, ring thin and apical, concolorous with the cap Flesh Firm, whitish, yellowish in the stem base Smell Indistinct Season Spring to autumn Distribution Rare Habitat On piles of wood chips usually in tufted clumps. One of the collections illustrated was growing on a giant Wood Ant nest in an oak wood. Spore Print Yellowish brown Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, warty (6.5-8) x (4.5-5) µm2 Edibility Unknown toxicity Notes This alien species was first recorded in the UK in 1995, in Surrey. It is native to countries in South East Asia including Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia where it grows on old Coconut stumps. Though a tropical species, it can survive on piles of wood chips where the exothermic composting action of bacteria, yeasts and fungi keeps the interior sufficiently warm for Gymnopilus dilepis to thrive 
Specimens found growing on a Wood Ant nest. 13 October 2007 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
7 September 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
7 September 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
7 September 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |