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| Toodstools growing in the burnt area at Cleaver Heath |
Less than two months after the summer fire at Cleaver Heath in August last year, mushrooms appeared growing directly within the burnt ground. During the period between October and early December they gradually spread across most of the burnt surfaces and by mid-December they had all disappeared.
Taking into account this particular habitat and their distinguishing features, they are likely to be Rooting Bonnet (Mycena megaspora) mushrooms. The preferred habitat for this uncommon species is burnt heathland (also Sphagnum bogs) and they are described as having dark, ridged, conical caps, each with a prominent central 'swelling'. They also have stems which penetrate deep into the growing surface, hence the term 'rooting'.
This species appears to fit within the definition of so-called pyrophilic or 'fire-loving' fungi, i.e. fungi that are either associated with fire or found within post-fire environments. Are the spores dormant within the ground and then triggered to germinate by the fire heat? These fungi were certainly not recorded within these areas at Cleaver before the fire.
Definitely a need for further research I think!
John McGaw
Voluntary Warden Cleaver Heath
